The Georgia Straight - Sing It Forward - Dec 10, 2015 by The Georgia Straight

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CONTENTS

Sea Island, Richmond. Philip M. Tong photo.

NEWS

Over the past two years, Lower Mainland hospitals have reported hundreds of patients to the Canadian Border Services Agency, causing undocumented immigrants to worry about access to health care. > BY TR AVIS LUPICK

NEWS

The City of Vancouver hopes to replicate the record of Brussels in bringing on-stream thousands of zero-emission buildings. > BY CHARLIE SMITH

COVER

With #SingItFwd, David and Ambrosia Vertesi are helping to foster an appreciation for music and the arts in the next generation. > BY JOHN LUCAS

BEST EATS

For those who worry about the impact on the planet of eating meat, there are plenty of vegetarian options for Christmas dinner. > BY GAIL JOHNSON

ARTS

START HERE 44 30 43 58 26 70 56 57 65 59 67 71 13 18 42

Books The Bottle Comedy Confessions Health I Saw You Local Motion Music Notes Real Estate Red Meat Savage Love Straight Stars Straight Talk Style Theatre

Simone Osborne remembers her young debut with Vancouver Bach Choir’s Messiah, Now she’s back at it as a celebrated soloist. > BY ALE X ANDER VART Y

MUSIC

From game-changing hip-hop and smart alt pop to classic British metal and piano balladry, the year’s best records are picked by the usual gang of idiots.

TIME OUT 48 22 64 58

Arts Events Movies Music

SERVICES

MOVIES

Dreamy Carol has Oscar written all over it; Every Thing Will Be Fine? Probably not: Lolabelle lives in elegant Heart of a Dog; My Internship in Canada is far too woolly..

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66 Careers 28 Mind, Body & Soul 64 Real Estate

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DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 9

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NEWS

Hospitals rat out immigrants > B Y TR AVIS LUPI CK

yron Cruz has encountered the sorts of situations that arise when someone is afraid a trip to a hospital could end with them being deported from the country. He once helped a man injured on a construction site connect with a veterinarian who stitched closed a deep cut, for example. And Cruz says it’s common for pregnant women to seek his network’s help for deliveries. “My number works as a 911 number for undocumented people,” he said, interviewed at his office in the Downtown Eastside. “We never announced our services, but my number has been given to people as the number they can call. That is very scary, because 911 is for emergencies.” Cruz is an organizer with Sanctuary Health, a group that promises people can access care without fear of any complication that might arise from their immigration status. He said that recent months have seen Metro Vancouver’s community of undocumented immigrants— which he estimated numbers between 3,000 and 5,000—grow increasingly reliant on such services that exist outside the province’s health-care system. A troubling statistic obtained from Fraser Health, which operates 12 hospitals throughout the Lower Mainland, may reveal why. From January 2014 to October 2015, Fraser Health referred approximately 500 patients to the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), the federal police force tasked with immigration enforcement. “When we learned this, we were very shocked,” Cruz said. “This has to be taken very seriously.” The issue of CBSA referrals gained widespread attention in 2014 when it was reported that the previous year transit police forwarded 328 incidents to CBSA. Those calls resulted in 62 investigations and at least one death: in December 2013, Lucia Vega Jiménez committed suicide while in CBSA custody after transit police arrested her for fare evasion. Since then, the City of Vancouver has worked to designate itself a “sanctuary city”, where undocumented immigrants can access municipal services regardless of their status. But the rest of the region has not shown the same enthusiasm for such policies.

Byron Cruz of Sanctuary Health warns undocumented immigrants that if they go to a hospital, they might be reported to the Canadian Border Services Agency.

In a telephone interview, Fraser Health spokesperson Tasleem Juma confirmed that 500 calls to CBSA was an “approximation” for the period January 1, 2015, to October 7, 2015. Juma claimed that Fraser Health does not know how many of those referrals resulted in CBSA launching an investigation, nor could she say how many ended in deportation. “Once the information goes to CBSA, what they do with it they don’t report back to us,” she said. CBSA refused requests for an interview. According to Juma, Fraser Health primarily contacts CBSA for billing purposes. She explained that nonresidents are charged different rates from residents and sometimes a call to CBSA is required to confirm a patient’s status. However, a Fraser Health policy document obtained by the Straight states that both physicians and nurses have “responsibilities” to attempt to see a nonresident discharged back to their home country. Juma said that those sections are written to mean staff should ensure a nonresident will have access to health services after they leave Canada. “We are not in the business of dealing with immigration issues,” Juma said. “When somebody needs emergency care and they come to us, we will take care of them.” She added Fraser Health is open to revising guidelines for dealings with CBSA to harmonize its policies with providers across the region. “I think that would go a long way in relieving people’s concerns about coming to get health-care services,” she said.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and Providence Health Care, which operate Vancouver General and St. Paul’s hospitals, said they could not supply numbers for CBSA referrals by deadline. Juan Solorzano, VCH executive director of population health, told the Straight VCH now requires that a patient give their permission before a call is made to CBSA. He noted they can refuse, in which case, if residency status cannot be confirmed for billing purposes, the patient will be charged the higher rates of a nonresident. “That policy was updated in August 2015,” Solorzano said. “We will no longer call the border services agency without consent from the client.” Regarding the 328 cases transit police sent CBSA in 2013, Anne Drennan, a spokesperson for the force, told the Straight her organization has implemented similar reforms. She revealed that in 2014, there were only 48 referrals. And so far in 2015, transit police have called CBSA just 18 times. “What changed was the policy,” she said. “We no longer ask people about their status in the country.” City councillor Geoff Meggs delivered an update on Vancouver’s efforts to become a sanctuary city. He reported that a draft document is essentially finished and expected to begin circulating among advisory councils before the end of the year. From there, he said, he hopes it will go before city council during the first half of 2016. “Immigration and residency status is not relevant to us,” he said. “So you are safe to do business with us.” -

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The Georgia Straight | Vancouver’s News and Entertainment Weekly | Volume 49 Number 2503 1635 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1W9 www.straight.com Phone: 604-730-7000 / Fax: 604-730-7010 / e-mail: gs.info@straight.com Display Advertising: 604-730-7020 / Fax: 604-730-7012 / e-mail: sales@straight.com Classifieds: 604-730-7060 / e-mail: classads@straight.com Subscriptions: 604-730-7000 Distribution: 604-730-7087 EDITOR + PUBLISHER Dan McLeod ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Yolanda Stepien GENERAL MANAGER Matt McLeod EDITOR Charlie Smith SECTION EDITORS

Janet Smith (Arts/Fashion) Mike Usinger (Music) Steve Newton (Time Out) Adrian Mack (Movies) Brian Lynch (Books)

EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATOR Doug Sarti ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Gail Johnson, John Lucas, Alexander Varty STAFF WRITERS

Tammy Kwan, Lucy Lau, Travis Lupick, Carlito Pablo, Amanda Siebert, Craig Takeuchi SENIOR EDITOR Martin Dunphy ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR Miranda Nelson COPY CHIEF Amanda Growe EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jennie Ramstad PROOFREADER Pat Ryffranck CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Gregory Adams, Nathan Caddell, David Chau, Jack Christie, Jennifer Croll, Ken Eisner (Movies), George Fetherling, Tara Henley, Michael Hingston, Ng Weng Hoong, Alex Hudson, Kurtis Kolt,

Robin Laurence (Visual Arts), Mark Leiren-Young, John Lekich, Amy Lu, Bob Mackin, Michael Mann, Rose Marcus, Beth McArthur, Verne McDonald, Allan MacInnis, Guy MacPherson, Tony Montague, Kathleen Oliver, Ben Parfitt, Vivian Pencz, Bill Richardson, Gurpreet Singh, Colin Thomas (Theatre), Jacqueline Turner, Jessica Werb, Stephen Wong, Alan Woo ART DEPARTMENT MANAGER

Janet McDonald SENIOR DESIGNER David Ko CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Alfonso Arnold, Rebecca Blissett, Trevor Brady, Louise Christie, Emily Cooper, Randall Cosco, Krystian Guevara, Evaan Kheraj, Kris Krug, Tracey Kusiewicz, Kevin Langdale, Shayne Letain, Matt Mignanelli, Mark “Atomos” Pilon, Carlo Ricci, William Ting, Alex Waterhouse-Hayward DIGITAL PRODUCT MANAGER

Chet Woodside LEAD WEB DEVELOPER Jeffrey Li WEB DEVELOPER Tina Luu WEB ADMINISTRATOR Miles Keir

The Georgia Straight is published every Thursday by the Vancouver Free Press Publishing Corp. Copies are distributed free every week throughout Vancouver, Burnaby, North and West Vancouver, New Westminster, and Richmond. International Standard Serial Number ISSN 0709-8995. Subscription rates in Canada $182.00/52 issues (includes GST), $92.00/26 issues (includes GST); United States $379.00/52 issues, $205.00/ 26 issues; foreign $715.00/52 issues, $365.00/26 issues. Contact 604-730-7087 if you wish to distribute free copies of the Georgia Straight at your place of business. Entire contents copyright © 2015 Vancouver Free Press Publishing Corp.

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SUBMISSIONS The Straight accepts no responsibility for, and will not necessarily respond to, any submitted materials. All submissions should be addressed to contact@straight.com.

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 11

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straight talk B.C. WOMEN TOUTED TO HEAD NATIONAL INQUIRY

In addition to B.C. child advocate Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, two aboriginal women with deep connections to B.C. are being mentioned locally as choices to conduct a national inquiry on missing and murdered aboriginal women. If the probe were to be undertaken by three women, children and family welfare champion Cindy Blackstock and lawyer and gender-equality advocate Sharon McIvor seem to be thought able to work well with Turpel-Lafond. The federal government announced on December 8 that it will consult families of missing and murdered women about how the inquiry will proceed. Ottawa hasn’t made any decision on who will be in charge of the investigation. Turpel-Lafond is in her second term as B.C.’s first representative for children and youth. Ernie Crey, a Sto:lo Tribal Council adviser who lost his sister Dawn, put forth her name three weeks ago. Blackstock is a member of B.C.’s Gitxsan First Nation. She is the executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and an associate professor at the University of Alberta. Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, mentioned Blackstock’s name in a phone interview with the Straight on December 8. McIvor, who belongs to the Lower Nicola Indian Band, initiated a complaint against Canada before the U.N. several years ago regarding gender bias against women in the Indian Act. Community organizer Fay Blaney, cochair of this year’s February 14 women’s memorial march in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, suggested McIvor during an interview. “The inquiry should be headed

CONNECTED. INDEPENDENT.

by indigenous women,” Blaney told the Straight by phone. For his part, Phillip said: “Those are names that I’ve heard and think would do a good job, but I would suspect in different regions across the country, there are other names of women that will be brought forward.” > CARLITO PABLO

COMMUNITY RALLIES FOR BELOVED CORNER STORE

Pascal Roy feels glad about the outpouring of support for his East Vancouver corner store. Le Marché St. George has been a popular grocery, café, and gathering spot at the corner of St. George Street and East 28th Avenue for several years now. According to Roy, he was told that the city will take away the store’s seating and stop it from serving warmed food, which will effectively make it unviable and potentially lead to its closure. “We’re allowed to sell cigarettes…lottery tickets…magazines, porn magazines…junk food, but my business is going to be closed down because we’re selling crepes,” Roy told the Straight in a phone interview. City councillor Melissa De Genova said she used to live near the store and liked it very much. “It’s lovely, and it’s certainly a hub for arts and culture and neighbourhood in that community,” she said by phone. De Genova said city staff had informed council that they will work with the owner to address issues relating to the store: “To be very clear, the city is not closing them down.” From morning to afternoon on December 8, more than 6,000 people signed an online petition to allow neighbourhood grocery stores to have limited food-establishment licences. According to Roy, he has been paying for a city licence for outdoor seating, and

SUSTAINABLE.

Vancouver Coastal Health inspects the area where food is warmed up for serving. However, Roy said, a city inspector responding to a neighbour’s complaint about strollers on the sidewalk told him that the city made a mistake about allowing seats. The inspector also advised him that the neighbourhood grocery can sell only packaged goods for takeout, much like a 7-Eleven. Supporters are scheduled to hold a rally on Saturday (December 12). “These kinds of cafés create communities and they’re important,” Roy said. “That’s why we have such a response, which is really heartwarming.” > CARLITO PABLO

CHINATOWN BUILDINGS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE

A Vancouver city staff report has raised an urgent alarm over the future of 12 heritage buildings in Chinatown. Each is more than 100 years old and each is owned by a historic Chinatown society. And according to the report, these societies cannot finance their restoration. “Without a sustainable long-term plan to renew the buildings and their operations, the buildings will soon reach a point where they will be unsafe and uninhabitable and their legacies will be lost forever,” wrote Kevin McNaney, acting general manager of planning and development services. “The loss of Society buildings will negatively impact the social, cultural and economic vitality of Chinatown, its identity and prominence as a National Historic Site.” On Thursday (December 10), Vancouver city council is scheduled to vote on a staff recommendation to approve in principle the Chinese Society Legacy Program to rehabilitate these buildings.

Twelve historic Chinatown buildings could fall into irreparable condition without a civic program to rehabilitate them. Kyle Lawrence photo. The motion calls for council to instruct the city manager to work with the Chinatown Society Heritage Building Association to try to secure $36 million. This money could come from strategic partnerships, senior levels of government, philanthropic organizations, and community partnerships. In addition, staff has recommended that council allocate $3.6 million to the legacy program from future development contributions in the Chinatown area. This would come on top of a $2.5-million city contribution last year for a matching grant program to support critical upgrades. “I think this report is going to be probably the best and fastest way of getting those buildings rehabilitated,” Coun. Kerry Jang told the Straight by phone. “Everybody has all these ideas, but at the end of the day, societies need cash.” Chinese immigrants created the societies more than a century ago to support and provide social services to others in their clan. According

to McNaney’s report, these organizations own 56 buildings in the Downtown Eastside, including the 12 heritage structures in Chinatown. Jang belongs to two of the societies. He said that because of these connections, he has declared a conflict of interest and will not be voting on the staff recommendations. He’s hoping that if the motion passes, the federal and provincial government will step up to help save Chinatown’s heritage. “Of all the cities in North America, we probably have the greatest concentration of clan buildings,” Jang said. “They’re still fairly active.” According to the report, most of the $36 million in the legacy program—$29 million—would cover the cost of building stabilization and seismic upgrades. Another $6 million would optimize buildings to help generate a positive cash flow. “I know firsthand how difficult it is to actually raise the money needed,” Jang said. > CHARLIE SMITH

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come in for your mini lip today 14 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

here’s a super-energy-efficient 85-unit apartment building being built the corner of Skeena and East Hastings streets. On its website, 8th Avenue Development Group describes the rental project as the “largest passive house building” in Canada. The description is bound to confuse those who wonder how a multifamily complex could ever be characterized as a “house”. In fact, the term passive house comes from the German word Passivhaus and does not refer exclusively to single-family homes. It’s a voluntary standard for achieving outstanding energy efficiency in all buildings, including institutional and commercial structures. It has caught on in Europe and is undergoing serious scrutiny by officials in Vancouver. Sean Pander, manager of the city’s green-building program, enthusiastically discussed the concept in an interview with the Georgia Straight at Vancouver City Hall. “We are looking to encourage passive house,” Pander said. “We have been doing some research of best practices around the globe. We’re really quite interested in the approach that they took in Brussels.” The City of Vancouver has reported that a majority of greenhouse-gas emissions within its boundaries come from buildings, mostly through the use of natural gas and electricity. Pander noted that in the Belgian capital, municipal officials didn’t demand a prescriptive approach. Instead, Brussels offered incentives. According to Pander, tradespeople, builders, and architects there all told him the same story: once they understood the passive-house standard, they paid more attention to details, like insulating around areas to avoid heat loss. “They took most of those lessons and just changed how they did things,” Pander said. Across B.C., buildings account for 11 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions, according to a report by the provincial climate leadership team. The document cited Brussels—which went “from amongst the worst in Europe to amongst the best over an eight-year period”—to suggest that B.C. could reduce emissions in this sector by 50 percent by 2030. “Our recommendations would see increasing use of wood products and a rapid transition to buildings that are energy efficient enough to be able to meet most of their energy needs with on-site renewable energy (e.g., equivalent to net zero ready or Passive House standards),” the report noted. The call for more wood construction was echoed by Pander, so long as it meets fire- and seismic-safety standards. “Wood is a great carboncapture technology,” he said. The six-storey building at 388 Skeena Street has been designed with five storeys of wood, which reduces heat leakage. The structure’s design, building envelope, high-quality windows, and heat-recovery system also help achieve that objective. This likely won’t be the last multifamily rental building developed to the passive-house standard. Pander revealed that his staff are preparing a report for council early next year outlining how to achieve an audacious goal in the Greenest City Action Plan: requiring that all buildings constructed from 2020 onward be “carbon neutral in operations”. Pander emphasized that “carbon neutral in operations” does not account for greenhouse-gas emissions in the production of building materials or the construction process. Those add up to 15 to 20 percent of overall emissions, with the remainder occurring during the operation of the building over its lifetime. “That’s primarily the use of natural gas,” he said. “Electricity is largely renewable in B.C.” One way to reduce natural-gas consumption will be if the downtown Vancouver district-heating company Creative Energy follows through on its objective of switching its fuel stock from natural gas to a renewable

Vancouver green-building program manager Sean Pander and Karen Tam Wu of the Pembina Institute admire how Brussels encouraged zero-emission buildings.

source. Creative Energy, which is controlled by developer Ian Gillespie, provides heat to more than 210 buildings, including B.C. Place Stadium and St. Paul’s Hospital. Pander said that it’s still possible to achieve carbon neutrality in operations even if there isn’t fuel switching, but it would likely change the economics and the time frame for this to occur. He also acknowledged that not all new buildings will be zeroemission in 2020. As a result, the city will likely consider the use of carbon offsets as a bridging strategy. Ordinarily, that can involve planting trees or doing something else to capture or reduce carbon emissions. “To continue to maximize the benefits, we’ll be looking at offsets within the city boundaries,” Pander said. THE ACTION PLAN aims to reduce

2020 energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions in existing buildings to 20 percent below 2007 levels. One of the cochairs of Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Team, environmental lawyer David Boyd, included a chapter on green buildings in his recent book, The Optimistic Environmentalist: Progressing Towards a Greener Future. He pointed out that the average Canadian home uses 170 kilowatthours of energy per square metre per year for heating and cooling. Boyd reported that a passive-house certified home can use a maximum of 15 kilowatt-hours of energy per square metre per year for these purposes. “A 90 percent reduction in energy use takes a tremendous amount of pressure off the environment—reducing air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and harm to biodiversity, while maximizing the homeowner’s savings,” Boyd wrote. Pander acknowledged that green initiatives might increase construction costs by two to five percent, but suggested that this is more than offset in operating savings over the building’s lifetime. “In the zeroemissions new building plan that we’re developing, we’re also going to start looking at financing tools.” Traditionally, the building industry has relied on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system to assess building sustainability. Pander, however, said that LEED’s broad checklist isn’t as effective as passive house in promoting energy efficiency. That’s because LEED enables builders to collect points for such things as access to transit, indoor air quality, and proximity to a good cycling network. “LEED was largely for air-conditioned climates, commercial buildings, office buildings, malls, and that sort of thing,” Pander said. “We don’t have an air-conditioningdominated climate.” Pander emphasized that passive house differs from “passive design”, which has no “controlled definition”. To clarify this point, Pander said that passive design involves applying

principles such as maintaining effective insulation or orienting the building to make the best use of sunshine. Placing an awning over a window, for example, might enable a home to capture the winter sun while reflecting back heat in the summer when the sun is higher in the sky. Another aspect of passive design is interrupting “thermal bridges” that enable heat to escape. According to Pander, concrete balconies on highrises act like “big radiator fins” that pull heat out of a unit. Even metal studs can conduct heat, which can be addressed by adding insulation in the construction process. “Passive house is actually an international standard for energy efficiency, whereas passive design is the approach,” Pander said. Mayor Gregor Robertson—in an interview before he left for the COP21 climate summit in Paris—told the Straight that mayors want to promote an international standard for the transparent reporting of greenhousegas emissions. “We’re already close to 100 percent electricity—renewable electricity—from B.C. Hydro,” he said. “But we burn lots of natural gas to heat our homes.” He pointed out that the city has direct tools, including its own building code, to reduce emissions from buildings. So will developers receive additional density for adding solar panels on the roof? “We’re looking at streamlining the approvals and creating incentives for renewables, solar in particular,” the mayor responded. “We want to be supporting the entrepreneurial efforts to demonstrate new technology.” The director of the Pembina Institute’s buildings and urban solutions program, Karen Tam Wu, told the Straight by phone that there are more than 10,000 green buildings in B.C. They range from century-old homes to the state-ofthe-art Telus Garden office tower to a prison in the Okanagan. Because Vancouver is a hub for commercial and institutional structures, it has a disproportionate number of green buildings. In part, that’s because it’s governed by the Vancouver Charter, which enables it to adopt a higher standard than other municipalities. She added that the province can learn from Vancouver putting forth “aggressive measures” to achieve its vision of becoming the world’s greenest city by 2020. Tam Wu said she is particularly impressed that the city is considering incorporating passive house for new buildings. In Brussels, she noted, 3,000 buildings have come online under this standard, and it’s been the catalyst for the rise of domestic producers of green-building products. “As the marketplace is receiving signals about what the demand is—and if there are government incentives to encourage research and development—the manufacturing supply side will catch up,” Tam Wu predicted. -

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DECEMBER 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 15

GIFT GUIDE

Choosing a charity to help environment thrive promotes renewable energy, waste reduction, alternatives to motorized transportation, and the protection of green spaces.

> BY C A RL ITO PA BLO

ost people care about the environment. They recycle stuff, plant trees, and do other good things. Wealthier folks may want to give to charities. In 2010, charitable organizations dedicated to helping the environment received $274 million in donations, according to Statistics Canada. That’s only three percent of the more than $10 billion given by Canadians to various causes that year. Federal and provincial governments encourage people to support charities by offering tax breaks. Charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency issue receipts for tax credits. In B.C., a $100 contribution in 2015 entitles a donor to $20 in combined federal and provincial tax credits. For first-time patrons, a maximum donation of $1,000 qualifies for a $639 credit. Donations in the form of securities, artworks, jewellery, and rare books are also eligible for tax credits. It’s a win-win proposition. The environment thrives, and donors pay less tax. During this season of gift-giving, here’s a list of Vancouver-based environmental charitable organizations to consider.

ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH ALLIANCE (eya.ca/) The EYA describes

itself as a “force of young people changing the world, one seed at a time”. Conceived in 1991, the group connects children and youth with the environment through programs such as gardening and nature observation. It facilitates workshops on subjects like composting, beekeeping, seed-saving, and tree care. The EYA strives to “create small moments of magic” and prepare young people to “become catalysts for change”.

BETTER ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION (best.bc.ca/) Dedicated cyc-

lists started BEST in 1991 to promote the use of bicycles as a sustainable form of transportation. According to the group, “Our vision is vibrant, healthy communities built around walking, cycling, public transit, and ride/car shares.” Its programs include the Bicycle Valet, which provides bicycle parking at various public events. The valet program began in 2006 and has secured over 100,000 bicycles.

ECOJUSTICE CANADA SOCIETY

Donations to the Stanley Park Ecology Society will help restore wildlife habitats, control invasive species, and educate people. FRASER RIVERKEEPER SOCIETY

(fraserriverkeeper.ca/) Fraser Riverkeeper is committed to the protection of the Fraser River and its watershed. The Fraser is one of the greatest salmon-bearing rivers in the world. The group wants to ensure that citizens can safely swim and fish in B.C. waters. It looks at the water quality in Metro Vancouver, garbage-dumping and pollution, net-pen salmon farming, coal transport on the river, and the destruction of fish habitat through gravel mining. STANLEY PARK ECOLOGY SOCIETY

SPES is also engaged in conservation programs like restoring wildlife habitat and controlling invasive species. Its Co-Existing With Coyotes program educates people on how to reduce conflict with the animals. DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION (david

suzuki.org/) The DSF is one of the country’s most prominent organizations. It was founded by David Suzuki and his wife, Tara Cullis, in 1990 following clamour for action by listeners to Suzuki’s radio series, It’s a Matter of Survival. The foundation seeks to protect the climate, create livable communities, establish environmental rights and justice, transform the economy, help Canadians connect with nature through outdoor education, and engage people in making Earth-friendly choices.

(stanleyparkecology.ca/) The SPES is the principal provider of information services in the city’s biggest green oasis. It’s been working with the park board since 1997 to deliver educational programs at the 400-hectare rainforest. These include PACIFIC SALMON FOUNDATION school field trips and public tours. (psf.ca/) Salmon isn’t just a type of

16 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

(ecojustice.ca/) Ecojustice fights for the environment by using legal tools. Its lawyers have represented First Nations, community organizations, and individuals in court cases since 1990. Ecojustice reports, “We achieve legal precedents that keep harmful substances out of the environment, protect wilderness and wildlife and take aim at climate change.” Its victories include a 2012 landmark decision by a federal court ordering the federal government to protect the habitat of B.C.’s resident killer whales.

fish for Canadians on the Pacific coast. It’s an integral part of their economic, cultural, and social existence. The PSF was founded in 1987 with the goal of promoting the conservation of wild Pacific salmon for present and future generations. Its mandate includes the restoration of habitats in B.C. and Yukon. Through various partnerships, it aims to “bring sal- EARTHSAVE CANADA (earthsave canada.wildapricot.org/) Earthsave mon back, stream by stream”. believes that people can save the CANADIAN SOCIETY PROMOTING planet by adopting a diet low in aniENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVA- mal products. It notes that animal TION (spec.bc.ca/) Founded in 1969, agriculture causes pollution and acSPEC focuses on urban commun- counts for up to 25 percent of globalities. It’s one of the oldest environ- warming emissions. Earthsave isn’t a mental organizations in the country. vegan organization, but it promotes It works to “raise public awareness a shift toward a more whole-food, on environmental issues and encour- plant-based diet, “where the majority age policies and practices that lead to of calories and nutrition come from urban sustainability” and to build plant rather than animal sources”. resilient food systems by teaching The group encourages people to go people how to grow food. SPEC also meatless every Monday. -

GREEN HOME GIFTS

Let’s talk about your car accident. Your complimentary consultation is the first step to resolving your ICBC claim.

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Vancouver’s Top EnerGuide Homes Thanks in part to the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Plan, Vancouver is a world leader in green buildings. Designers and builders throughout Vancouver create remarkable homes that are comfortable, quiet, and use very little energy. Here are the 2014 top-rated EnerGuide homes:

Top Single-Family Homes Milana House Photo: Silvja Crnjak

Clockwise from left: Bigarade’s throw pillows, Moen’s water-efficient Attract hand shower, Chef’n’s EcoCrock compost bin.

Eco-happy gifts for the home

> BY L UC Y LA U

iving green has its benefits—a healthier Earth, lower energy bills, and consequently more moolah in your pocket being a few of them. But, if you’re not sure where to start, it can be an intimidating transition. This year, help your friends and family commit to more than separating their paper and plastics with an eco-conscious gift that gives plenty back to the home (and environment). From chic compost bins and waterefficient showerheads to sustainably made bedding and lunch sacks, here are our picks for giftable home items that make it easy to embrace an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

There’s no doubt that composting benefits the Earth and our landfills tremendously, but it’s not always the most attractive (or odourfriendly) process. That’s where Chef’n’s sleek EcoCrock compost bin ($67) comes in: it can hide more than three litres of food scraps while sitting pretty on your kitchen counter. Infinitely more functional than the standard green box, the ceramic bin contains a removable plastic bucket for easy emptying and cleaning; an adorable vented lid; and a natural, stench-busting charcoal filter that keeps kitchens smelling fresh. Available at Ming Wo Cookware (various locations). BIN THERE

CUT AND DRY Just because laun-

dry is a necessary evil doesn’t mean outrageous energy bills have to be. Nellie’s All-Natural Quick Change Dryerballs ($17 for two) are designed to reduce lint and wrinkles,

soften clothes, and produce more absorbent towels—all while reducing drying times by up to 25 percent. A surprisingly handy (and retro-cool) stocking stuffer, the recyclable balls are toxin-free and come in fun colours that can be easily spotted in the machine. A scent-stick-compatible model ($20 for two) is also available, and can be loaded with Nellie’s essential-oil-infused fragrances. Available at London Drugs (various locations). Eco-conscious chefs will find a multitude of uses for ProTeak’s Teakhaus cutting boards. Each piece is produced in a sustainable process that begins at teak plantations in Mexico that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, where ProTeak strives to benefit both its employees and surrounding communities through its work. Check out the end-grain butcher block (on sale for $50), which can endure even the toughest of kitchen carvings— though with its smooth hand grips and striking combination of natural teak patterns, you’ll want to show it off on the dinner table as well. Available at GreenWorks Building Supply (79 West 3rd Avenue).

ON BOARD

Help prevent single-use plastics from polluting the Earth, while saving your Nice list sizable dollars in the long run, with GoGo Bags’ reusable sandwich sacks. Handmade from cotton by a local mother-daughter duo, each of GoGo’s bags is machine-washable and decorated with playful prints, like groovy peace signs, vintage stamps, and neon-hued bicycles. Give a snack set ($17), which includes one snack bag

GOGO GREEN

and a larger sandwich bag, or prep the recipient for the workweek with a set of five sacks (from $34). Available at Delish General Store (108–1535 Johnston Street). Who knew water conservation could be as easy as switching your showerhead? Moen’s water-efficient Attract hand shower ($65) is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with its WaterSense label, meaning it uses almost two litres less water per minute than the average showerhead without compromising performance. This reduces demand on water heaters, saving you both energy and cash. Combine that feat with a userfriendly design, six adjustable spray settings, and a stylish chrome finish, and showers become a lot more guilt-free—and luxurious. Available at Home Depot (various locations).

SHOWER UP

LESS PLASTIC MORE FANTASTIC

Milana House

Design Work Group/ Avani Ventures

Camarce Residence

4 Corners Design/DEC

West 11th House

Noort Homes/ Norwood Developments

Maple Building Design/ Bihal Brothers Development

Sunny Khatkar/ Geowest Developments

Raleigh House Granville Masterpiece

Top Laneway Homes Deschner Lane House Photo: Colin Perry

> BY LUCY LAU

Plastic waste is often associated with bottles of

2 glorified tap water—products that many Van-

couverites have, thankfully, eliminated from their day-to-day lives. But think about the vessels that hold your oils, vinegars, foaming face washes, and scented shampoos, and you’ll notice that the nonbiodegradable material also plagues a startling number of nooks and crannies in the average household. It’s a problem the Soap Dispensary (3718 Main Street) identified early on. The shop essentially functions as a refill station: simply drop off your empty plastic container—or pay a small deposit for one of the dispensary’s nifty glass jars—and pick it up full (from $1 for 100 mL) of your choice of ecofriendly soap, allpurpose cleaner, or hair or skin product from brands like Live for Tomorrow, Sapadilla, and Dr. Bronner’s. It’s a brilliant way to reduce your environmental footprint while keeping your home clean and toxin-free. The dispensary also carries its own line of natural cleaning products, many of them dye- and scent-free, and it’s packed to the brim with sustainably crafted household supplies—think bamboo

Designer/Builder

PILLOW TALK Montreal-based de-

signer Genevieve Lorange demonstrates that bedding can not only look good but do good, too. Her vibrant Bigarade textiles are handcrafted from natural fabrics, like cotton, linen, and silk, which are sourced from old warehouses across Quebec. We love her throw pillows (from $65), many of them adorned with romantic florals that are taken from Lorange’s grandmother’s collection of hand-embroidered handkerchiefs. Any fabric scraps that are left over from the cushions’ construction are transformed into surprise trinkets, such as pouches and scrunchies, which you can expect to find packaged with your order. Available through Bigarade’s online shop (bigarade.io/ ). -

Rating

Project Name

Soap Dispensary’s refill station reduces plastic waste.

toothbrushes, functional glass straws, and ultraabsorbent Swedish dishcloths. For the holidays, we recommend stuffing the stockings of your loved ones with a gift card from this East Side gem, which can be used toward refills of soaps, DIY soap-making and body-care ingredients, and even edibles. Or you can wrap up a selection of the shop’s reusable glass jars (from $1 each), available in a range of sizes and gorgeous colours like blue and amber, which can be dropped off for fills. -

Project Name

Designer/Builder

Rating

Deschner Lane House

Lanefab Design/Build

Ross/Moro Lane House

Lanefab Design/Build

Rose Lane House

Lanefab Design/Build

Two Birds Lane House

Lanefab Design/Build

Douglas Park Lane House

Well Balanced Designs

92 88

The EnerGuide rating system is a standard measure of a home’s energy efficiency, rated on a scale of zero to 100. A rating of 100 represents a house that is airtight, very well insulated, sufficiently ventilated and has renewable energy systems on site that generate the same amount of energy that the house consumes. A rating of 82 or higher is excellent.

LEARN MORE: vancouver.ca/greenhomes

RATING SYSTEM

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 17

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Ideas for ecofriendly presents (clockwise from left): Leaves of Trees’ Eucalyptus Mint Deodorant, Fable Naturals’ vanilla-orange vegan lip balm, Dirty Grl’s vegan avocado soap, and LUSH’s vegan Salt and Peppermint Bark Body Scrub.

Getting a natural holiday glow NOSE FOR A CAUSE The packaging

Era Design Locally Crafted Jewellery 604 688 2714 | 1795 Venables Street etsy.com/shop/EraDesignJewellery eradesign.ca Inspiration updated daily @EraDesignJewellery

and scents are strikingly simple, but it’s the cause behind the new Canadian line Leaves of Trees that makes its products special at Christmastime. Most of the Toronto-based company’s handmade body butters, natural deodorants, and other items are crafted from unrefined argan oil that’s harvested and produced by a women’s cooperative in Morocco. Our favourites include the invigorating Coffee Argan Butter, which comes in a cool silvery tube and is crafted from coffeeseed oil, and non-GM soy oil, with vanilla and argan oil ($45 for 150 mL, at BeautyMark [1268 Pacific Boulevard]). At the same price, the Lavender Argan Butter is serene and nonoily, perfect for hands in winter. And nuts for all things natural will love the stocking stuffer Lavender Tangerine or tingly Eucalyptus Mint Deodorant ($15 for 37 mL). > JANET SMITH

BALM DOT COM Sure, your lip-balm

collection may be extensive—even though those pesky tubs and tins never manage to be nearby when you need them the most—but we bet that you (and most of those on your gift list) don’t have a vegan one on hand. Available in fresh mint, lemon coconut, and vanilla-orange flavours, Fable Naturals’ vegan lip balms are made from 100-percent-natural and Fairtradecertified ingredients like olive oil, organic coconut oil, and cocoa butter.

Buy one balm ($6 for 6 grams) or a set of three ($18) and rest easy knowing that they won’t end up in a landfill once empty—each one is packaged in an easy-squeeze, compostable cardboard tube. Find Fable Naturals online and at various shops around the city (fablenaturals.com/our-stockists/). > LUCY LAU

VEGGIE LOVE It looks good enough

to eat, but Dirty Grl’s crazily realistic avocado soap, complete with “pit”, is actually a vegan lather. Hand-poured in Brooklyn with ingredients like sea salt, jojoba oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and safflower oil, it’s scented with sandalwood and vanilla. Just don’t leave it out on the kitchen counter. (It’s $28 at Nordstrom Pacific Centre’s Pop-In Shop.) > JS

BOMBS AND SCRUBS Handmade

LUSH (various locations) has cooked up a bunch of natural, new holiday products that make alluringly scented stocking stuffers. We like its vegan Salt and Peppermint Bark Body Scrub ($9.95), rich with sea salt, peppermint oil, and fair-trade organic cocoa and cupuaçu butter. The Yog Nog bath bomb ($6.95) is all golden fair-trade shea butter, organic jojoba oil, and coconut oil, while the So White fizzer ($6.45) is a delicate apple scent with bergamot, rose, and neroli oils that creates a snowlike froth in your tub. > JS

Developed and LOCKS manufactured here in Vancouver, AG hair products are made from natural ingredients that are gentle on the hair but deliver beautiful results. AG’s popular smoothing oil ($18) is rich in organic Moroccan argan oil that adds softness, shine, and slip to all hair types. Produced by Berber women in Morocco, the oil is filled with antioxidants and vitamin E and is the perfect gift for anyone with dry hair. In addition, sales provide income to these women and allow them to support their families and educate their children. The oil can be purchased at salons around Vancouver. (See aghair.com/.)

SHINY

> TAMMY KWAN

CHILL OUT Winter’s cold weather

leads to dry skin, but our moist climate means lathering on the moisturizer isn’t necessarily the answer. Enter Tata Harper’s Hydrating Floral Essence, a moisturizing mist that blends natural, nontoxic ingredients like hyaluronic acid, gotu kola, jasmine, and tangerine hydrosols into a lightweight formula that provides a hydrated feeling and an all-day glow. Spritz generously on top of makeup to help minimize pores and refine skin tone and let all thoughts of dry, f laky skin be washed away ($85 for 50 mL at BeautyMark).

UNWIND BODY AND MIND

> AMANDA SIEBERT

> BY AMANDA SIEBERT

oday’s fast-paced business environment and pressure to stay fit all year round have many people so worn out by December that the idea of hosting a family dinner is enough to drive them to insanity. Why not indulge them in a little spa-therapy session this year? Forget the facials and Swedish massages of days gone by; we’re referring to some serious, all-encompassing rejuvenation. These treatments break the mould by claiming to offer long-term mind and body benefits. FOR THE TRADITIONALIST

Cupping treatment at Collective Skin Care (1268 Pacific Boulevard), $55 for 30 minutes Consider cupping a massage from the inside. This ancient Chinese practice sees a registered acupuncturist place heated glass cups on the skin—usually on the back—creating suction and pulling the skin upward. The cups are left on the skin for anywhere from five to 15 minutes and are moved around along the spine to help with blood flow and nerve stimulation. Cupping is said to be beneficial in improving a host of physical ailments, including chronic pain, high blood pressure, respiratory conditions, and more. FOR THE ATHLETE

Cryotherapy session at Qore Health Centre & Spa (630 Fifth Street, New Westminster), $55 for three minutes for first-timers We’ve all heard about the benefits of an ice-cold shower after a workout, but whole-body cryotherapy takes that principle to extremes. Stand in a cryosauna and gasiform nitrogen takes temperatures in the chamber down to as cold as –170° C. Sessions last only two to three minutes, but it’s enough time to supposedly bring the body’s internal temperature low enough to kick immunesystem response into overdrive, increasing oxygenation 18 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

The ancient practice of cupping, or placing heated glass cups upon the skin, is said to offer many health benefits.

and detoxification while decreasing inflammation, swelling, and joint and muscle pain. Regular clients are said to report improved energy, faster recovery, and higher performance. FOR THE BUSYBODY

Sensory-deprivation float at the Float House (various locations), $39 to $75 for 90 minutes When it’s not the body but the brain that needs a serious break, nothing clears the mind quite like 90 minutes in a sensory-deprivation tank. Devoid of all sound, light, odour, and cellphones, the tank is filled with nothing but 10 inches of salt-rich water that is heated to the same temperature as the skin’s surface. (We’re talking 800 pounds of dissolved Epsom salts, so skip the float if you’ve got any open wounds.) This leaves users floating in a sea all their own. Floaters purportedly experience both improved relaxation response and immune function, as well as stress relief and increased energy. -

Form 10 (RULE 4-4(3))

NO. M143682 VANCOUVER REGISTRY

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA BETWEEN:

DANG HUY DONG

PLAINTIFF

AND:

TARLOCHAN MALHI and KULWINDER KAUR MALHI DEFENDANTS SUBJECT TO RULE 15-1 ADVERTISEMENT To: Dang Huy Dong TAKE NOTICE THAT on 29/May/2015 an order was made for service on you of a Notice of Withdrawal of Lawyer issued from the Vancouver Registry of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in proceeding number M143682 by way of this advertisement.

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In the proceeding, the petitioner claims the following relief against you: withdrawal as lawyer. You must le a responding pleading within the period required under the Supreme Court Civil Rules failing which further proceedings, including judgement, may be taken against you without notice to you.

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You may obtain from the Vancouver Registry, at 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2E1, a copy of the Notice of Withdrawal of Lawyer and the order providing for service by this advertisement. This advertisement is placed by Hammerberg Lawyers LLP whose address for service is 1220 – 1200 West 73rd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6P 6G5, Fax: 604-269-8511.

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DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 19

GIFT GUIDE

Great gifts for guys, from briefs to bow ties TIE ONE ON Bow ties don’t get much more festive, not to mention dapper, than the ones in Cursor & Thread’s new holiday collection. The Vancouver company has red versions adorned with vintage-look white snowshoes and ski poles, classic poinsettias dancing amid navy and green, or little snowmen against light blue. More Scandinavian-cool is the Cozy Cotton Bowtie with its red-and-white reindeer theme or the green-andwhite Turtle Dove rendition. Best of all, these are old-school ties that you have to knot yourself; if the guy you’re gifting doesn’t know how, direct him to the plethora of YouTube tutorials so he can do it like a pro. The company will personalize the present by stamping the recipient’s name on the cute brown cardboard box (made entirely from postconsumer waste). And a note: the local outfit aims to minimize its impact on the Earth and makes the ties in small batches. The looks run $59 at www.cursorandthread.com/.

technologies such as a silky-smooth, made-from-milk-protein fabric that feels like a second skin, each pair of undies is designed to deliver the utmost in style and comfort. We recommend the fly-equipped Basilone fitted boxer-brief ($28), available at the Boardroom (1749 West 4th Avenue), which comes in a range of far-out colours and patterns suitable for the minimalist man, the laid-back rebel, and more. > LL

HOCKEY HEAVEN The Canucks might be in a slump, but that doesn’t mean you can’t represent your city in style on the ice. Vancity Original’s Game Changer holiday collection features a vintage-inspired hockey jersey (available in military green, classic black, and ox red, $159.99) that keeps it simple at first glance, but the devil’s in the details: twill appliqués, embroidered patches, and an extended hem make the second version of this popular piece a great choice for any hockey fan on your list. It’s available at DIPT (819 Hornby Street).

> JANET SMITH

BEARD BEAUTIES For your diehard beardo boyfriends, check out all the grooming products at Vancouver’s Adrenaline (1014 Granville Street or online at shopadrenaline.ca/ ). We love the packaging of the Brooklyn Grooming Commando Beard Balm, in its sleek, retro metal case ($34.99). It’s full of nourishing minerals to tame thicker, coarser face blankets. And he may look like the wildman of the woods, but he doesn’t have to smell bad: give him some old-school, medicine-bottled beardbrand beard oil in citrus or tea tree ($29.99), both lightweight and nongreasy. > JS

POCKET-FRIENDLY Wallets don’t come much hipper than Opening Ceremony’s embossed varsity-style line, now featured at Nordstrom Pacific Centre’s Pop-In Shop. We like the

Clockwise from left: a Cursor & Thread bow tie, Cabin + Cub Design’s cufflinks, Vancity Original’s Game Changer jersey.

practical, pocket-sized small black zip pouch ($31), with its collegiate-style “OC” and other symbols on soft calf leather. Opening Ceremony, a New York City label that melds art, fashion, and travel, also has passport holders, elasticized wallets, and larger zip pouches in black and royal blue—all of them compact, sleek, and definitely a step up from a plain brown version.

in Vancouver—while the down-filled construction and cozy fleece hood lining make it warm enough for subzero temperatures. Pick between versatile olive green and dark navy at Frank & Oak’s new Vancouver store (316 West Cordova Street), and expect to see the piece remain in heavy wardrobe rotation long after the holidays have passed.

TO BE FRANK Keep your guy warm year-round with a classic fishtail parka ($275) from Montreal-based menswear line Frank & Oak. The military-inspired coat features a lightweight, water-resistant design that’s great for everyday wear—especially

CUFFED UP Cabin + Cub Design’s cufflinks are made for the Pacific Northwest man. Locally handcrafted by designer Valerie Thai, each pair ($22) uses natural bamboo wood for a rustic, casual-cool vibe that can only come from the West Coast. Audiophiles

> JS

> LUCY LAU

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will love the laser-cut vinyl record etchings, while outdoorsmen will find themselves drawn to the gorgeous pine-cone, deer, and canoe illustrations. You can even find sets that are detailed with drawings of owls, hockey sticks, and vintage pennyfarthings. Find Cabin + Cub Design on Etsy (etsy.com/ca/shop/Cabin/ ).

> LL

IN BRIEF You may know Instance (or Stance in the U.S.) for its trendy socks—and a notable collaboration with Rihanna that produced a line of street-chic stockings earlier this year—but the brand’s most recent collection of men’s underwear is just as hip. Featuring fancy proprietary

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FOOT FASHION Colourful socks with endless shapes and designs add a fashionable touch to men’s feet. The Happy Socks box set ($45) at Plenty Park Royal (1044 Park Royal South) comes with four pairs of socks displaying creative looks. The dotted and striped patterns will definitely bring a vibrant and fun mood to the men who receive them as a holiday gift. Made from high-quality combed cotton, these socks pair well with dress shoes, sneakers, and even a tuxedo. Don’t have time to giftwrap? The box set has fancy designs and bright colour combinations that make it presentable—just put a bow on it and you’re all set. > TAMMY KWAN

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ythBusters star Adam Savage isn’t easy to pigeonhole. He’s a Hollywood props geek, set designer, high-functioning hoarder, do-it-yourself hobbyist, science educator, and actor. He’s also a brilliant communicator who likes blowing things up on a television show that’s been running on the Discovery Channel for 14 years. “It’s resonated because it’s true,” Savage tells the Georgia Straight while riding a bus on the way to Tucson, Arizona. “I don’t just mean true in terms of science truth. I watch a lot of reality television these days. I see Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman have taken their MythBusters show on a lot of producers writing down what tour, combining some zany illusions with a healthy dose of scientific insights. people say and telling them what to say and what to film. I don’t see a lot of out. That was really important. I was Richard Heineman, Danny Mills, authenticity in that.” incredibly privileged to have that.” and Marvin Minsky. “There is no end to the wonderful Savage maintains that on MythHe recalls interviewing the film Busters—a show that strives to de- director Jason Reitman, who was communicators that I have been lucky termine whether or not there is unabashed about being a wealthy enough to read and meet and sometimes truth behind myths and urban Beverly Hills kid. Reitman’s father, even to collaborate with,” Savage says. He acknowledges his reputation for legends—his dialogue and narratives Ivan, is a successful director, and acwith cohost Jamie cording to Savage, collecting props—including the chair Hyneman are real this gave Reitman used by Capt. James T. Kirk on TV’s and not prepack“the luxury to original Star Trek—but he also reveals aged. If they diswait and choose that he’s gotten rid of three truckloads Charlie Smith agree on the direchis first film, Thank of stuff in the past six months. “It’s always an ongoing process: the gathertion, Savage says, they’ve learned to You for Smoking, very carefully”. go wherever the story leads them. “I “Most people aren’t as honest ing and the culling.” Savage and Hyneman are in the think people can tell when something about how their privilege and their like that is genuine,” he says. upbringing helped them in what midst of touring their stage show to 32 cities over 35 days. Savage says it Savage shows an equal level of can- they did,” Savage says. dour when talking about his upbringHe reveals that Richard Dreyfuss, operates very differently than the ing. He doesn’t conceal that he grew who played the oceanographer Matt television episodes, suggesting it’s up in privileged circumstances as the Hooper in Jaws, was one of his early like a magic show full of illusions but son of a psychotherapist mother and science heroes. Then he recalls how the also offering scientific insights. “I think of myself as a storyteller a director, artist, and animator father. police chief counterpart in the film, In the 1970s, his dad would spend played by Roy Scheider, remarked that first and foremost,” he declares. “I think it’s an innate human need to three or four months a year creating Hooper was a rich kid. spots for Sesame Street, which enabled “Dreyfuss goes ‘Yup,’ ” Savage says tell and hear stories. And those stories that resonate with us are the ones him to paint for the rest of the year. with a chuckle. “They showed me a way of livWhen asked which scientists that are about the deeper things.” ing that involved doing the things I he admires, Savage has no diffiwanted to do,” Savage says. “They also culty rattling off a list of names. The live stage show MythBusters: provided me with the financial ability He starts with his friend Phil Plait, Jamie & Adam Unleashed will be at to do that. I knew I could quit a ter- a.k.a. the Bad Astronomer, then the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Tuesrible job because they could help me mentions Neil deGrasse Tyson, day (December 15).

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Enchanted Nights at Bloedel Bring your imagination and explore the whimsical wonders inside the Bloedel Conservatory. Walk through a miniature world of artisan fairy and sprite villages with magical lights, holiday music and live entertainment set amongst the dome’s tropical plants and exotic birds. The fun continues outside on the Queen Elizabeth Park plaza. Grab a treat, take a pony ride and snap a selfie at the highest viewpoint in the city!

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passion in your love life. Dec 14, 7:30 pm, The Art of Loving (369 W. Broadway). Tix $20, info www.artofloving.ca/.

INTRO TO WEB DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Learn the basics of HTML and CSS at a workshop designed for complete beginners. Dec 15, 6-8 pm, BrainStation Vancouver HQ (410-1110 Hamilton). Free admission, info www.brainstation.io/event/ intro-web-development-20151127172616/.

events/ timeout CHRISTMAS FORUMS TAKE ACTION BENEFITS FASHION FOOD AND DRINK ET CETERA KIDS’ STUFF SPORTS ATTRACTIONS OUT OF TOWN

GETTING TO KNOW FACEBOOK Learn the basics of Facebook and stay connected with friends and family. Dec 15, 6:30-8 pm; Dec 18, 10:15-11:45 am, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch (350 W. Georgia). Free admission, info www.vpl.ca/.

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2THIS WEEK VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS MARKET Sample old European favourites or new flavours while you search for the perfect handmade gift at booths run by over 50 vendors. Other highlights include gingerbread decorating, a Christmas-traditions scavenger hunt, and a Christmas carousel. To Dec 24, 11 am–9 pm (closes at 6 pm on Dec 24), Queen Elizabeth Plaza (W. Georgia & Hamilton). Tix $8/4, info www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com/. BRIGHT NIGHTS IN STANLEY PARK Experience the lights, displays, and live performers at this annual, family-friendly holiday event. To Jan 2, Stanley Park Miniature Train (Stanley Park). Tix $11/8/6/free for kids under two, info www.vancouver.ca/parksrecreation-culture/bright-nights-train.aspx.

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FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Stroll with friends and family through interactive themed areas and enjoy the Dancing Lights show on Livingstone Lake, the gnome performance, and the Vancouver Public Library’s Tales for a Winter’s Night. To Dec 31, VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak). Tix $16/12/9/kids under two free, info www.vancouver.ca/parks-recreationculture/festival-of-lights.aspx. ENCHANTED NIGHTS AT BLOEDEL Patrons can walk through a miniature world of artisan fairy and sprite villages with magical lights, holiday music, and live entertainment set among the dome’s tropical plants and exotic birds. To Jan 3, 4-9 pm, Bloedel Conservatory (4600 Cambie, Queen Elizabeth Park). Tix from $7.25, info www.vancouver.ca/enchantednights/. VANCOUVER WINTER WONDERLAND Indoor Christmas festival features interactive events and family-friendly activities such as a three-storey snow globe, a giant Christmas tree, holiday merchants, arts and crafts, food vendors, and Santa and his reindeer. Dec 11-20, PNE Forum (2901 E. Hastings). Info www.vancouver winterwonderland.com/. GOT CRAFT? HOLIDAY EDITION Event brings together 80 makers and indie craft designers showcasing organic bath and body products, accessories, home décor items, toys, and greeting cards. Dec 12-13, 10 am–5 pm, Pipe Shop Building (115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver). Tix $5/3, info www.gotcraft.com/. SHINY FUZZY MUDDY Annual curated collection of fine art, craft, and design features over 25 local artists. Dec 12-13, 11 am–7 pm, Heritage Hall (3102 Main). Tix $20, info www.shinyfuzzymuddy.com/.

FORUMS 2THIS WEEK INTRODUCTION TO WORDPRESS BLOGGING Set up a free WordPress account, create posts, and customize your settings in this hands-on session. Dec 14, 2-3:30 pm, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch (350 W. Georgia). Free admission, info www.vpl.ca/.

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TALK DIRTY Learn how sexy talk can increase the connection, intimacy, and

GIVING GOOD HEAD Evening covering erotic techniques and products that will enable you and your partner to enjoy a heightened level of excitement and pleasure. Dec 15, 7:30 pm, The Art of Loving (369 W. Broadway). Tix $35, info www.artofloving.ca/. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL MEDIA Learn about social media, the basics of how it works, and how to use it to connect with others. Dec 16, 2-3:30 pm, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch (350 W. Georgia). Free admission, info www.vpl.ca/. HOW TO HAVE A GREAT ORGASM Women’s guide to self-pleasure includes all the details from the basics of getting started to more advanced tips and techniques. Dec 16, 7:30 pm, The Art of Loving (369 W. Broadway). Tix $25, info www. artofloving.ca/.

TAKE ACTION 2THIS WEEK HOW PREPARED IS BURNABY FOR AN INCREASE IN REFUGEES? A public forum featuring a panel of community and immigrant service providers. Dec 10, 7-9 pm, Maywood Community School (4567 Imperial St., Burnaby). Info www. burnabyfamilylife.org/.

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For up-to-the-minute, searchable Events Time Out listings, visit

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BENEFITS 2THIS WEEK SPIRIT’S CALL CHOIR BENEFIT CONCERT Spirit’s Call Choir presents an evening of song, fun, and friendship in support of the Syrian Refugee Project. Dec 15, 7 pm, Canyon Heights Church (4840 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver). Tix $15, info www.spiritscallchoir.ca/. SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BENEFIT An evening of humour, music, and stories by Beverley Elliott, John Cullen, Lisa Person, Katrina Bennett, Bryant Ross, Devon More, and host Jo Dworschak. Proceeds go to the Chrysalis Society. Dec 15, 7:30 pm, Cottage Bistro (4470 Main). Tix $5 at the door, info www.facebook.com/ events/701557103308196/. PYJAMA PARTY East Van choirs Kingsgate Chorus, the Mount Pleasant Regional Institute of Sound, and ESCHOIR raise money for the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective. Dec 16, 7:30 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $14.99, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/.

FASHION 2THIS WEEK CHINATOWN MALL HOLIDAY SALE Highlights include over 35 curated vendor booths, a print sale featuring young emerging artists, a locally sourced pop-up restaurant, dance workshops, a gift lounge, dance performances, DJ sets, and photos by Marshall Heritage. Dec 13, 1-9 pm, Fortune Sound Club (147 E. Pender). Tix $2 at the door, info www. fortunesoundclub.com/.

FOOD AND DRINK 2JUST ANNOUNCED DINE OUT VANCOUVER Canada’s largest food and drink festival dishes up 17 days of culinary events and experiences, held at restaurants throughout the

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city, which will be offering three-course menus at three price tiers. Jan 15-31, various Vancouver venues. Tix $40/30/20, info www.dineoutvancouver.com/.

2THIS WEEK MEATLESS MEETUP HOLIDAY POTLUCK IN SUPPORT OF THE FOOD BANK Bring an eight-serving vegan dish and a nonperishable food donation for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Dec 12, 5:30 pm, Oakridge SDA Church (5350 Baillie St.). Info www.meetup.com/MeatlessMeetup/. BAKER’S MARKET: HOLIDAY GOODIES GALORE Buy fruit cake, decorated sugar cookies, cupcakes, French macarons, chocolates, scones, pies, jams, and gluten-free and vegan goodies. Dec 13, 11 am–3 pm, Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre (7646 Prince Albert). Free admission, info www.bakersmarket.com/.

ET CETERA 2THIS WEEK VIDLASER DARK SIDE OF THE MOON Roundhouse Productions presents a new immersive video and RGB laser format every Friday and Saturday night. To Feb 7, 8:15-11:30 pm, BCIT Burnaby Campus (3700 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby). Tix $11, info www.RoundhouseShows.com/.

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KITTY NIGHTS BURLESQUE: THIS IS NERDLESQUE Kitty Nights Burlesque presents an evening of burlesque routines based on caped crusaders, Starfleet officers, video-game heroes, and cartoon characters. Dec 13, 8 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $9-17, info www. kittynights.com/vancouver.html. MYTHBUSTERS JAMIE & ADAM UNLEASHED The Georgia Straight presents MythBusters cohosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman in an evening of on-stage experiments, audience participation, videos, and behind-the-scenes stories. Dec 15, 7:30 pm, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix $49.50-85 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.

KIDS’ STUFF 2THIS WEEK MINI-RAIL RIDES The Historic CPR 374 Locomotive will be decorated for the holidays and a mini-rail train will be giving adults and children rides around the pavilion. To Dec 23, 10 am–6 pm, Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (183 Roundhouse Mews). Tix $2, info www.wcra.org/. JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Carousel Theatre for Young People presents a kidfriendly play about a boy who discovers a magical peach inhabited by fantastical creatures. Based on the book by Roald Dahl. To Jan 3, Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St., Granville Island). Tix $35/29/18, info www. carouseltheatre.ca/production/james/. FIRST NOEL Celebration of song, story, and crafts for families with young children. Dec 12, 9:30 am–12 pm, Creekside Community Recreation Centre (1 Athletes Way). Tix $5 per child, info www.stjohnsvancouver.org/. PHYSICS IN MOVIES (& REALITY!): ANNUAL FARADAY SCIENCE SHOW Kidfriendly science lecture explores physics questions in film and reality. Dec 13, 2-3:30 pm, UBC Hebb Theatre (2045 East Mall, University of British Columbia). Info outreach.phas.ubc.ca/events/faraday-show/.

SPORTS 2JUST ANNOUNCED CANADA VS. MEXICO FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER The Canadian national men’s soccer team takes on Mexico in the fourth round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Mar 25, 7 pm, BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific). Tix on sale Dec 15 at www.canadasoccer.com/.

2THIS WEEK CANUCKS VS. RANGERS The Vancouver Canucks take on the New York Rangers in National Hockey League action. Dec 9, 7 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $80.25-281.25 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.

ATTRACTIONS EDGEWATER CASINO Casino in the downtown core offers 24-hour gaming, over 60 table games, a poker room, a high-limit section, 500 slot machines, restaurants and lounges, and live entertainment including concerts and televised UFC events. 750 Pacific Blvd. S. Info 604687-3343, www.edgewatercasino.ca/

OUT OF TOWN 2JUST ANNOUNCED SEAHAWKS VS. BROWNS The Seattle Seahawks take on the Cleveland Browns. Dec 20, 1 pm, CenturyLink Field (Seattle, Wash.). Tix at www.ticketmaster.ca/.

TIME OUT EVENTS LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 23

MUSIC

#SingItFwd invests in the future of music

> BY JOHN L UC AS

f there’s actually such a thing as karma, as Buddhists, Hindus, and others believe, then David and Ambrosia Vertesi surely have good things coming their way. In 2011, the Vancouver couple—he’s a musician, she’s a vice-president at Hootsuite—started #SingItFwd, a charitable initiative that raises funds for Saint James Music Academy. To date, the Vertesis have raised $125,000 for the Downtown Eastside– based organization, which provides music lessons and after-school care for disadvantaged children. Proceeds raised by #SingItFwd have gone toward instruments, meals, lessons, and social-support programs at the school. The Vertesis believe that music changes lives, a sentiment reflected by a statement of purpose posted on the Saint James Music Academy site, which reads: “We support the emotional and intellectual needs of our students with positive social dynamics, as early in their life as possible. Music is the means. They learn a host of skills that will build the resiliency and strength needed to overcome socio-economic and other barriers. Through music they begin to see their way to a better future.” In a telephone interview with the Georgia Straight, David Vertesi notes that #SingItFwd’s mission is also concerned with the future of the arts and culture on a societal level, and that this, naturally, starts with instilling a sense of their importance in youngsters. “I think for me the cause is unifying people around the arts and music, and trying to find a place where we all agree,” Vertesi says. “I think there’s a lot of discussion in the media about the arts and funding and its place and importance in our society, and all of it really stems back to art education for kids. The best thing for the arts is to build a generation of people who have experience with it and appreciate it, whether that’s as participants in the industry or as audience members or whatever.” He employs a sports analogy, saying, “A kid who grows up playing hockey is more likely to play hockey or watch hockey or read about hockey. Frankly, they’re even more likely to go to a football game as an adult, just because they took part in organized sports. Right now we have a ton of great musicians and artists coming out of Canada, but not necessarily the audience that we want with it.” Without the support of that audience, artists will have to turn to funding bodies—be they governmental

#SingItFwd cofounder David Vertesi with students of the Saint James Music Academy, the beneficiary of his fundraising efforts. Amanda Siebert photo.

ones or industry-based ones like the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records—in order to carry on working. “I’m really appreciative of grants, and I think it’s great, the support we get from the government and institutions like FACTOR, but I think that the idea here needs to be to build a culture that doesn’t need to be sustained like that—you know, doesn’t need to be sustained with handouts for people,” says Vertesi. “Because all you end up having is people who are like, ‘I want to make this, so hopefully I can get someone to give me money for it’—you know, the government or whoever—and if they don’t, then the art just doesn’t get made.” VERTESI HAS hard-earned knowledge of what it’s like navigating the Canadian music industry as an independent artist. He’s a member of Hey Ocean!, the indie-pop trio he founded with Ashleigh Ball and David Beckingham. Highlights of Hey Ocean!’s decade-long run have

included playing at the 2010 Winter Olympics, signing a distribution deal with Universal Music in 2011, and receiving a Juno nomination in the breakthrough-group-of-theyear category in 2013. His status as a member of a highprofile act notwithstanding, he didn’t have major expectations when he and Ambrosia conceived of #SingItFwd as a one-shot fundraising concert in 2011. When the Vogue Theatre offered to donate both venue and staff to the cause, however, the ball started rolling. #SingItFwd was able to attract an impressive array of talent, with its first-ever lineup including the likes of Said the Whale, Aidan Knight, Rococode, Vince Vaccaro, the Belle Game, the Zolas, the Boom Booms, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, and Adaline. (Saint James students also perform on-stage alongside the artists.) “We had, like, 13 or 14 artists the first year, because I thought people would say no—you know, you invite more people to the party than you think are going to come,” Vertesi notes.

“And everyone said yes. Now, five years later, we have 30 artists, more than half of whom are Juno-nominated or award-winning. It’s such a pleasure to create that space for the artists, for the audience, and for the kids.” With past #SingItFwd bills including such high-calibre talent as the Sheepdogs, Yukon Blonde, k-os, Dear Rouge, July Talk, Mother Mother, Shad, Hannah Georgas, Kathryn Calder, We Are the City, and, of course, Hey Ocean!, the bar has been set pretty high for the next edition. That’s slated to take place, once again at the Vogue, on January 14 and 15. The performers for each night, however, will remain a mystery until the day of the show, but Vertesi promises “the best lineup we’ve ever put together”. It is also the last one. The 2016 edition of #SingItFwd is being billed as the event’s grand finale. Vertesi says it will not be the end of his and Ambrosia’s philanthropic efforts. Of the annual concert, though, he says, “It was never meant to be

more than one year, so the fact that it’s been five is absolutely amazing. I think #SingItFwd will continue on in its own way, and we’ll still be doing stuff for the school, and for the arts and music education. It’s been five amazing years, and we’re ready to leave the space for other people to do their thing, which we’re already seeing a ton of.” Indeed, he says he has seen a number of other charitable initiatives spring up in #SingItFwd’s wake, with their initiators giving the Vertesis much credit for setting a powerful example that, when they work together, individuals truly can make a difference. That, perhaps, is the best karmic reward of all. “It’s a testament to the fact that people really want to do something good and want to feel a sense of purpose,” Vertesi says, “and to have an impact on their own community.” #SingItFwd takes place at the Vogue Theatre on January 14 and 15. Visit www.singitfwd.com/ for details.

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GIFT GUIDE

Give peace on Earth and goodwill to all

he most wonderful time of the year AMAZON RAINFOREST CONSERVANCY is also the most commercial, but GIFTS This Orton, Ontario–based organizachances are that neither you nor tion works to protect the area of Tambopata, anyone on your shopping list needs Peru, which is home to one of the last blocks more stuff. Think of all the packaging and of intact tropical rainforest land in the world. wrapping paper you could divert from land- “Scientists have determined the Amazon rainforest plays a key role fills by picking presents in the basic functioning of that, quite literally, do a the planet,” ARC’s website world of good. Charities states. “Preventing the dethat operate at home and Gail Johnson forestation of the Amazon abroad have all sorts of ideas for gifts that have a powerful, posi- helps mitigate climate change, which ultimtive impact on people’s lives. By helping the ately effects [sic] the health and well being of planet and other people, you can be sure families and economies throughout the world.” Donations go toward providing nestyou’ll be making spirits bright. ing sites for endangered harpy eagles, proPLAN CANADA’S GIFTS OF HOPE Founded tecting howler monkeys “from becoming in 1937, Plan works to alleviate poverty and bush meat” for hunters, and defending jagimprove children’s lives in 72 countries. With uars from ranchers and farmers who view its Gifts of Hope, the person you’re buying for the creatures as threats to their livestock. receives a card, and the gift itself—whether it’s www.amazonrainforestconservancy.com/ a goat to provide a family with milk, a bed net to help prevent malaria, or a well that allows IMMUNODEFICIENCY CANADA’S ALASaccess to clean water—goes to children and TAIR FUND This national organization helps promote early diagnosis and effective treatfamilies who need it. plancanada.ca/ ment of primary immunodeficiency, a condiUNICEF CANADA’S SURVIVAL GIFTS There tion in which people are born with a defective are more than 60 gifts to choose from, includ- immune system or none at all. ing a Mother and Baby Tetanus Pack and BlanThe Alastair Fund helps families with a kets for Babies, a three-pack of cozy throws to child who is registered as a patient at B.C. keep vulnerable newborns warm. Those two are Children’s Hospital (and four others across among gifts that are matched by other organ- the country) by providing financial assisizations (Kiwanis and JoMedia, respectively), tance for things like transportation, overnight doubling your donation. You can also purchase stays, food, parking, and other critical needs. everything from water-purification tablets to immunodeficiency.ca/ pencils to packs of Plumpy’Nut, a therapeutic, peanut-based food that boosts a malnourished THE LUNG ASSOCIATION’S WOOD FAIRIES CHRISTMAS DEED Okay, this one is a tanchild’s chance of survival. shop.unicef.ca/ gible item, but funds from the sale of this chilOXFAM UNWRAPPED Supporting the fight dren’s book go to the Lung Association, which against poverty, these gifts help women and supports research into and treatment of condimen in developing countries become more tions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obself-sufficient. A beehive comes with technical structive pulmonary disorder, pertussis, sleep training for rural farmers to make a living off apnea, and lung cancer. the honey they produce; a chicken, sheep, goat, The story, about two young children in need or donkey provides food security as well as ac- of some Christmas magic, is dedicated to the cess to marketable products such as eggs, wool, millions of children, past and present, who have or milk. www.oxfamunwrapped.ca/ been victimized by tuberculosis and other lung

Health

UNICEF Canada’s survival gifts, including blankets and water-purification tablets, help mothers and babies like 18-year-old Hteik Hteik Soe and her son in Burma. Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF photo.

a result of torture, political violence, and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, and political opinion. Survivors of torture often suffer long-term physical and psychological effects that can severely impede their ability to work, learn, and resettle in a new country. Through CanadaHelps (www.canadahelps. org/ )—which lists scores of charitable-gift options supporting organizations across the country—VAST is seeking donations that will go toward interpretation services for hourlong trauma counselling sessions. vast-vancouver.ca/ -

diseases. It was written by Robert George Ferguson—an iconic Canadian doctor who pioneered the first vaccine against tuberculosis and championed the first free treatment for TB in North America—for his children in 1929. Last year, one of his kids, Sheelagh Ferguson Barrable, had the story published in honour of her late father as a way to raise money for a cause dear to his heart. www.lung.ca/ VANCOUVER ASSOCIATION FOR THE SURVIVORS OF TORTURE (VAST) INTERPRETER SERVICES This association helps

refugees who come to B.C. traumatized as

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FOOD

Acorn head chef Robert Clarke’s Christmas dinner consists of squash and apple salad served with roast maitake mushrooms, stuffing, and candied beets alongside a deconstructed pumpkin ice cream float.

Meatless feast for Christmas

“I try to get a lot of my vegetables cut and prepared the day before [Christmas] so that the next day I’m just cooking—that saves a lot of time,” he adds. “Gravy you could do weeks in advance.” A big dish of stuffing is a given on Heirloom Local chefs prove that going vegetarian, vegan, or simply healthy for Vegetarian Restaurant ecoconscious Xmas dining won’t sacrifice flavour or satisfaction executive chef Jesse Jobin’s holiday table, too. The quintessential Christmas dinner “There’s no reason not to do a stuffing even if may call for roast turkey, but a meatless feast can be you’re not having turkey,” Jobin says by phone. just as extravagant and satisfying. “If you are having turkey, just bake it on the side. BY GAIL JOHN SON Even those who aren’t vegetarian or vegan but Any recipe will work. Don’t get too complicated consider themselves health- and eco-conscious with it. Choose three or four complementary flaare finding plenty of reasons to consider swapping vours—maybe some mushrooms, chestnuts, leek, the stuffed bird for plant-based plates. sage, and thyme; you could add some mashed poWhile red meat is the worst offender when it tatoes in there to make it a little heavier. Pack it all comes to environmentally unfriendly animal in and baste it with veg stock to give it that moistproducts, poultry takes its toll on the planet ness that you’d have in the turkey itself.” too. The broiler-poultry industry consumed Clarke always offers mashed potatoes—“My about 240 billion megajoules of energy in 2005, daughter loves them,” he says. For her, they’re or the equivalent of 42 million barrels of crude whipped with sour cream, but he makes them simoil—more than the entire country of Sri Lanka ply with olive oil for his vegan wife. “The sour cream used that year, an Agricultural Systems study adds a bit of tang, and I like to use Yukon Gold pofound three years later. tatoes because there’s a bit of sweetness to them,” Cost is another factor: a heap of farm-fresh veg- Clarke says. “And use a decent amount of pepper.” gies costs considerably less than a free-range turkey. Brussels sprouts don’t have to be the dreadful Then there’s flavour. With so many possibilities dish of decades past; Clarke caramelizes them, for vegetarian dishes, those throwing turkeyless adding a bit of garlic and sherry vinegar. “People festivities aren’t left wanting. The way Acorn head are used to having really mushy, overcooked Bruschef Robert Clarke sees things, turkey isn’t, in sels sprouts,” he says. “You don’t need to cook fact, the real star of the show anyway. them for too long.” “For a lot of people, the highlight is secretly the With a Hungarian background, Clarke is a stuffing,” Clarke says in a phone call. “People just big fan of braised red or purple cabbage, and he love stuffing.…You can put it in muffin tins for loves beets. For a fancier number, he does a difindividual portions or bake it in a casserole dish, ferent take on scalloped potatoes, using a purée then cut it up into slices.” of blanched fennel layered with roasted butterClarke likes to use fennel, rosemary, chanter- nut squash, cashews, and onion. “When you bake elle mushrooms, and diced pear in his stuffi ng it down, it’s almost like a gratin,” he says. “I did along with a bit of vegetable stock and oil. “You that last Thanksgiving, and it was a real hit.” can prep stuffi ng in advance, then bake it the Jobin has come up with an elaborate veggie turnext day,” he says. “It’s like chili: it’s usually even ducken (the usual version of which consists of a better the next day. chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey).

THINGS TO DO

“I’ve been toying around with taking a butternut squash, cutting it in half and hollowing it out, then taking the flesh and cooking it down with aromatics, chestnuts, gin…then cooking leek and apples, reassembling the whole thing up…roasting it whole, then cutting slices of it.” Burdock & Co. founder and chef Andrea Carlson recommends a roasted sunchoke terrine for a showstopping veggie dish. “The savoury herb notes and the nutty caramelization are a rich addition to a meal,” she tells the Straight. Her recipe calls for four pounds of skin-on sunchoke, a quarter cup of olive oil, eight sprigs of thyme, two sprigs of rosemary, and a bit of salt. You toss all the ingredients together and roast them in a covered shallow pan at 400 ° F for 45 to 60 minutes, until the sunchokes are soft. “As soon as they are cool enough to handle, press them into a loaf pan lined with parchment paper or plastic wrap,” she explains. “Wrap the top and press the terrine with a weight—an oliveoil tin or large can will work. Refrigerate overnight with the weight.” From there, unwrap the loaf and slice it into half-inch to one-inch slabs. Season with salt and sear over medium heat in olive oil until you see a light caramelization happening. Finish in the oven at 350 ° F just long enough to heat through. A big panzanella is a pleasing salad-type dish, Jobin says. He incorporates tomatoes, capers, olives, basil, and bread with beets roasted in vinegar, using the leftover liquid to make a bright vinaigrette. “If you wanted to go Italian, there are lots of great premade gnocchi out there,” he says. “You can take some chanterelles, add in chestnuts, leeks, butternut squash, and apple with crispy sage on top, and serve that as a nice, healthy robust pasta.” Time-saving is a must: forget roasting your own chestnuts, for example. “There is no point,” Jobin says. “Every Italian and Chinese market has these great little packages of preroasted chestnuts in a bag for 99 cents, and you’re never going to notice the difference.” After all, while fine food is a treat, it’s not worth stressing out over the holidays. “Just relax, open a good bottle of wine, and be with your family,” Jobin says. “Enjoy the company.” -

FOOD High five

Meal ticket BAKER’S MARKET Want to serve up some home-style holiday baking, but you don’t know how to cook? Head out to the last Baker’s Market of the season at Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre (7646 Prince Albert Street) on Sunday (December 13). The free family event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it’s chock-full of lovingly made goodies to give as gifts or lay out for guests. Think Grandma’s fruitcake, elaborately decorated sugar cookies, cupcakes, French macarons, chocolates, scones, pies, and jams. And don’t worry about special diets: there are gluten-free and vegan treats too. -

Where to find French- and Euro-style holiday treats

FAUBOURG PARIS (various locations) Beautiful Old World bûches de Noël in new flavours like dark chocolate with coconut.

FRENCH MADE BAKING (81 Kingsway) Picture holiday macaron trees in a mix of dark chocolate, Black Forest, and eggnog.

THIERRY CHOCOLATERIE (1059 Alberni Street) Check out the artful chestnut/hazelnut/ chocolate ganache and seasonal macarons.

PATISSERIE LEBEAU (1728 West 2nd Avenue) Pretty seasonal pastries, handcrafted fruitcake, real stollen, and more.

THOMAS HAAS (2539 West Broadway) Preorder bûches de Noël in flavours like dark chocolate with orange or white coconut and lime.

Cocktail of the week

CULTCH COCKTAIL East Van distillery Odd Society Spirits has created a special cocktail for the Cultch and will donate $1 to the local theatre for each one sold. The warm, citrusy concoction is made from Odd Society’s Oaken Wallflower Gin and Bittersweet Vermouth, balanced by the sweetness of Earl Grey tea syrup. Orange and juniper bitters from Bittered Sling round out the glass. Find the cocktail ($9 plus tax) at the Odd Society tasting room (1725 Powell Street) and in the Cultch’s lounge (1895 Venables Street) until early next year. -

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704 – 333 Terminal Ave. Van 604 684 8171 An inclusive centre for older adults, 55+ on low income, and those with disabilities, offering year-round educational, health-related, recreational activities. Information & Referral to assist seniors with resources & services in the community ie seniors benefits, income tax preparation & government services. Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY A working guide for healing using the 12 Steps and references to Biblical teachings. More info: marylou@canadianmemorial.com AFTER SUICIDE SUPPORT GROUP Meetings every other Wednesday 7pm Call Sylvia Cust, RCC, Counsellor at CHIMO Crisis Service in Richmond 604-279-7077 Richmond Caring Place, 7000 Minoru

MOOD DISORDERS

SUPPORT GROUPS We have peer-led support groups all over the Lower Mainland for people with depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety led by well-trained facilitators. Group sessions during days, evenings, or Saturdays. For location and times of groups:

www.mdabc.net 604-873-0103

Battered Women's Support Services provides free daytime & evening support groups (Drop-ins & 10 week groups) for women abused by their intimate partner. Groups provide emotional support, legal information & advocacy, safety planning, and referrals. For more information please call: 604-687-1867

Distress Line & Suicide Prevention Services NEED SOME ONE TO TALK TO? Call us for immediate, free, confidential and non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day, everyday. The Crisis Centre in Vancouver can help you cope more effectively with stressful situations. 604-872-3311

BC Balance & Dizziness provides information & support for persons with balance, dizziness & vestibular disorders. Bi Monthly info meetings @ St. Paul's Hospital. Call for info. 604-878-8383 www.BalanceAndDizziness.org

Equal Parenting Group - North Vancouver Support group for fathers going through the divorce process needing help. Call 604-692-5613 Email:nspg@mybox.com

Genital Herpes Support Group for Women Are you living with Genital Herpes in Vancouver? We are a group of women that draws upon each others knowledge and strength to grapple with this sometimes trying condition. Through mutual support and honest conversation we aim to address the physical and emotional health implications of this virus and how it affects romantic relationships, sex, dating & life in general. Contact: ghsupportgroup@gmail.com Heart of Richmond - AIDS Society operates a confidential support group for persons with HIV/AIDS, or persons affected (family, friends or care givers) by the disease. For info - 604-277-5137 www.heartofrichmond.com Support, Education & Action Group for Women that have experienced male violence. Call Vancouver Rape Relief 604-872-8212 Anorexics & Bulimics Anonymous 12 Step based peer support program which addresses the mental, emotional, & spiritual aspects of disordered eating Tuesdays @ 7 pm @ Avalon Women's Centre 5957 West Blvd - 604-263-7177 SEXAHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Vancouver, BC For those desiring their own sexual sobriety, please go to www.sa.org for meetings times and places. We are here to help you from being overwhelmed. Newcomers are gratefully welcomed. Women Survivors of Incest Anonymous A 12 Step based peer support program. Wed @ 7pm @ Avalon Women's Centre 5957 West Blvd 604-263-7177 also www.siawso.org Anxiety? Depression? Free Mental Wellness Support Group held on Saturdays (10:30 am – 12:30) Promotes a holistic approach to healing (body, mind & spirit). Networking and interactive learning experience in a safe, non-judgmental environment. For more information call 604-630-6865 or visit www.mentalwellnessbc.ca ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION Looking to start a parent support group in Kitsilano. Please call Barbara 604 737 8337

1807 Burrard St (@ 2nd) • 604.336-4448 1232 Burrard St (@ Davie) • 604-428-2420 2580 Kingsway (@ 34th) • 604-336-0420 2619 W. 4th Ave (@ Bayswater) • 604-336-6420 211 E. 16th Ave (@ Main) • 604-336-5420 6657 Main St (@ 51st) • 604-336-7420

Join a FREE YWCA Single Mothers support group in your local community. Share information, experiences and resources. Child care is provided for a nominal fee. For information call 604-895-5789 or Email: smacdonald@ywcavan.org Join a FREE YWCA Single Mothers support group in your local community. Share information, experiences and resources. Child care is provided for a nominal fee. For information call 604-895-5789 or Email: smacdonald@ywcavan.org

LifeRing - Sobriety your Way

Sound Different? Men & Women supporting each other in a friendly, non-judgemental environment based on abstinence, secularity & self-help Van: @ Vancouver Daytox 377 E. 2nd Sat @ 4pm Maple Ridge: @ The CEED Centre 11739 - 223 St Sundays 1:30pm www.liferingcanada.org or www.lifering.org Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) Do you have a problem with sex and love relationships. You are not alone. SLAA is a 12 Step 12 Tradition oriented fellowship for those who suffer from sex and love addiction. Leave a message on our phone line and somebody will call you back for meeting time and locations. 604 515-5423 Is your life affected by someone else's drug use? Nar-Anon Family Group Meeting Every Friday 7:30-9:00 pm at Barclay Manor, 1447 Barclay

Nar-Anon 604 878-8844

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) Burnaby TCF is a grief support group for parents who have experienced the loss of a child, at any age. Meet the last Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. For location call Grace: 778-222-0446 "We Need Not Walk Alone" compassionatecircle@hotmail.com Burnaby@TCFCanada.net www.tcfcanada.net Have you been injured in a car accident? Are you stressed out? Do you feel isolated or like no one understands what you are going through? A new drop in support group is here with a focus on improving your quality of life. 7 pm Mondays @ Roundhouse Community centre $5.00 drop in. For info please call 604-219-0659

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FOOD

Central City gets to the pint I added the requisite amount of corn sugar, pitched my yeast, and fermented it. To my surprise, the beer really tasted good. That spurred me on to continue brewing. My first professional beer that I brewed, that was totally my recipe, was derived from a home-brew book called The Joy of Homebrewing. In it, there was a recipe that called for honey in the beer, so I made a honey pilsner that became a staple at that local brew pub. I still remember it fondly today.

> B Y M IKE USING E R

traight to the Pint taps those on the frontlines of our booming local craft-beer industry for stories about biggest brewing successes, dream vacation spots, and which brand was always in the family fridge.

WHO ARE YOU Gary Lohin. Brew-

master-partner at Central City Brewers and Distillers, home of Red Racer beer.

YOUR DAD’S FAVOURITE BEER

Well, I remember my dad drinking Carling Black Label and Old Style Pilsner in stubbies. He used to have a couple after cutting our big lawn in North Vancouver during the summer months, and it wasn’t too long before I inherited that lawn-cutting job.

Central City’s Gary Lohin searches for beer on travels. Amanda Siebert photo.

so I could get a pint. When I designed my home-brewed beers, they would be similar to those softly carbonated English styles using the famous East Kent Golding and Fuggle hops. When I was able to run my first brew pub and sell to the public beers that I designed, a lot of my initial beers were emulated from FIRST GO-TO BRAND It took a while that England trip, so my professional before I really had a “go-to” brand. career really started then. It really was I bounced around trying different how I got to where I am today. beers like Black Label, Charrington Toby, some imports like St. Pauli Girl DREAM DESTINATION When I and Beck’s. I never really liked the lo- travel, a big component is always beer. cal beer scene, so I started home-brew- I’ll search for brew pubs, breweries, ing while in university in the early ’80s. and taprooms wherever I go and try I would drink my own craft beers, to drink local. I’ve visited the famous until Okanagan Spring came onto the brewing centres like England, Gerscene. I remember trying their first many, Belgium, and the Czech Republager and thinking, “Mmmm, this lic. In the USA I really like Portland, tastes like the beer I make,” so then San Diego, and Seattle. I still travel I tried their pale ale too and it became frequently to Portland and I really love my real first go-to brand. Big Rock in that city. A lot of my influences in brewAlberta was another beer I’d stock up ing today come from these three cities on whenever I was able and bring it in the States. My dream destinations come from the craft-brewing places back into B.C. I have yet to visit, like the east coast of LIFE-CHANGING BEER It was on North America and the countries that my trip to England in the late ’80s are up-and-coming, like Denmark, when I visited Tadcaster in the York- Norway, Japan, and New Zealand. shire area. I tried many hand-pulled beers from the Sam Smith’s and John FIRST BEER BREWED It was that Smith’s breweries and quickly fell in fateful day when my parents bought love with them. They were so good me my first home-brew kit. I rememthat I would line up at 10 in the mor- ber there was a can of Coopers Real Ale ning, waiting for the local pubs to open malt extract that came with the kit, so

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT What I am most proud of is the three World Beer Cup medals we’ve won as a brewery: one for our Thor’s Hammer Barley Wine, one for our ESB, and another for our Barrel Aged Porter. It’s nice to know that all the passion and effort that it takes to make a great beer was recognized on the world stage. It’s about passion, baby! The team I’ve had at Central City continues to create great beers today and I’m very proud of all of them, too. I’D LOVE A BEER WITH Iain Hill

at Strange Fellows Brewing. He’s been a passionate creator of great beers for so long and has been in the industry as long as I have. Don Moore. He has opened up so many breweries and brew pubs, and has helped out so many of the people in today’s B.C. craft-beer scene. He’s now working for Canada Malting, which provides very important ingredients to our local craft breweries so they can make their amazing beers. I always have time for him. Don was/is a brewer and is definitely worth an interview by you. Conrad Gmoser from Brassneck. Originally from Steamworks, Conrad has a long, storied career locally and I have always admired his beers. He continues to push the boundaries of craft beer. This is a condensed version of Straight to the Pint. Go to Straight.com for the full article and a bonus video feature.

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FOOD

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s we get further immersed in the holiday season, it becomes quite common for our levels of hedonism and voraciousness to spike in the foodand-drink department. Christmas is barely in sight, yet I’ve already polished off more than my fair share of hors d’oeuvres here and there, and said things like “Well, we may as well just finish this bottle” more than a few times. Being married to an Australian, I’ve always been fascinated with the contrast between my Christmas memories and those of my wife, which centre on picnics on the beach involving fresh seafood, lively salads, and other light fare. While, granted, the holiday season in much of the Northern Hemisphere doesn’t lend itself to beach-going and slapping on another layer of sunscreen, that doesn’t mean From left to right: Catherine and Pierre Breton Vouvray Dilettante NV Méthodewe have to consume heavier food and Traditionnelle Brut, Domaine de la Pépière 2014 Muscadet, Domaine de la Pépière boozier drinks. I know, this sounds al2014 La Pépiè Cabernet Franc, and Clos du Tue-Boeuf 2013 Cheverny Rouillon. most irrational. I was thinking about this recently shipment that’s just hit our shores has a year, and an easy match can be found as I was tasting through a quartet of lighter weight and flavour profile than in crisp and flinty Muscadets. The wines from Racine Wine Imports the previous batch. Sparkling Chenin limestone part of this wine’s mineral(racinewineimports.ca/), all hail- Blanc is what’s in the bottle; it’s zippy ity comes from Kimmeridgian soils and spry with lem- found along the Loire River, chock-full ing from France’s on and nutmeg, of fossilized sea life. At 12 percent alLoire Valley. They and a lovely little cohol, it’s light and lively but harbours share a buoyancy, licorice-y fennel only a touch of the searing, austere being relatively Kurtis Kolt note. It’s made in intensity that many Muscadets carry. low in alcohol, are crafted honestly with minimal inter- the traditional Champagne method, After aromas of salty sea air and lemon vention, and sing with the terroir so it has that great fresh-baked-bread balm, a wild ferment coupled with agcharacteristics of a cool climate and character on the nose and a touch of ing on the lees allows a softness, lendlimestone-rich soils. All of them are extra weight from extra contact with ing the smallest hint of graham wafer delightful wines that will keep your the lees. A charmer that’s not only on the palate. The rest of it is vibrant season both merry and bright, and good for welcoming guests and kick- with citrus-y components like grapeing off your evening, but a wine to fruit pith, lime leaf, muddled lemon, I present them below. carry you all the way through. Great and that mineral note coming through CATHERINE & PIERRE BRETON with mini quiches, pastries, and any- with distinction. VOUVRAY DILETTANTE NV MÉ- thing found on a cheese board.

The Bottle

THODE-TRADITIONNELLE BRUT

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(Vouvray, Loire; $32 and up, private liquor stores) In June, I wrote about this bubble in these pages, but I’m opting to re-up not only due to its seasonal suitability, but because the fresh

DOMAINE DE LA PÉPIÈRE 2014 MUSCADET (Nantes, Loire; $23 and

DOMAINE DE LA PÉPIÈRE 2014 LA PÉPIÈ CABERNET FRANC

(Nantes, Loire; $22 and up, private up, private liquor stores) There are liquor stores) First off, don’t think plenty of local oysters, mussels, clams, of this wine as something akin to and scallops to be had this time of rich, juicy, and occasionally gloopy

Cabernet Francs out of California. Nor should you even entertain it as something more like well-structured but still bold-and-opulent B.C. versions. If you ponder a wine somewhere between a heartier rosé and a classic, Burgundian Pinot Noir, perhaps served with a very light chill, you’re way more likely to be in the zone. This one also checks in at 12 percent alcohol, so a few glasses over the course of an evening shouldn’t leave you anywhere near lampshadeon-your-head territory. This wine is fresh, fresh, fresh! Made simply with free-run juice, which flows naturally from grapes after they’ve been crushed but not pressed, the wine’s red plums, smashed cherries, and red-apple skin components mingle merrily with a streak of gravelly minerality arcing through from beginning to end. Bring on the pâtés, terrines, and charcuterie! CLOS DU TUE-BOEUF 2013 CHEVERNY ROUILLON (Touraine,

Loire; $27 and up, private liquor stores) Half Pinot Noir, half Gamay, and wholly delicious, this wine pretty much tastes like Christmas. While it’s indeed a lighter red, there’s a cavalcade of festive flavours going on, including dark chocolate, peppermint, cranberry, cloves, and a brilliant lashing of cinnamon spice. It’s the kind of wine you want to enjoy while Bing Crosby is crooning from your speakers, gifts are being wrapped, you’re decorating the tree, or you’re just lazing on the couch, watching Love Actually for the umpteenth time. As an extra gift to you, the wine’s a mere 11 percent alcohol, so feel free to merrily top up that glass. In Vancouver, Kitsilano Wine Cellar on West 4th and Marquis Wine Cellars on Davie are the best places to nab these bottles, but feel free to contact Racine Wine Imports to ensure you get your hands on them. -

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TIMEKEEPER WINE CLUB Time is precious. Our TIMEkeeper Wine Club lets you enjoy our wine with those you love whenever you want it, wherever you are. Buying online allows us to help you save or share your time. www.timewinery.com

30 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

ARTS

The first time Simone Osborne sang George

B Y ALEX ANDER VAR T Y

Frederick Handel’s Messiah with the Vancouver Bach Choir, she was so naive that she didn’t know where to sit. This time, however, she knows exactly where she’s going to be: in the spotlight. Back around the turn of the millennium, long before the rising-star singer accepted a job with the Canadian Opera Company or strode the stage at Carnegie Hall, Osborne was just a musicobsessed teenager with a big voice and no sense of her rightful place. “One might think that I was sort of feisty or something and wanted to sit with all the boys—but no, that wasn’t the case,” the Vancouver-born singer recalls with a laugh, reached at home in Toronto. “I sat at the edge of the tenor section because I thought that I should sing with them, down in that octave, rather than up with the sopranos,” the 29-year-old vocalist continues. “I didn’t think that I could sing high, and I didn’t think I could sing in my head voice. I had sung musical-theatre songs and pop songs, and I just thought I was a belter. And I didn’t realize that, physiologically, everybody has a head voice. Even a bass has a head voice. But I hadn’t found mine yet. So that was my rude awakening in the Bach Choir, when [then conductor] Bruce Pullan made me sit with the other girls and I had to sort of figure out how to get up there. And sure enough I did, and I fell in love with it.” Osborne was a disruptive force in more ways than one, apparently. “The Bach Choir was my entrée into classical music and actual singing in harmony and singing with other people, and blending,” she notes. “That was a big one for me: ‘Simone, you’re going to need to tone it down a little bit. There are 40 other people singing.’ I actually had a choir director once, who shall remain unnamed, who would walk by the choir and stick his hand out in my face—sort of a talkto-the-hand gesture meaning ‘You can give a little bit less, Osborne.’

Simone Osborne rejoins the choir The celebrated soprano got her start with the Bach Choir; now she comes back to perform Messiah as a soloist

Simone Osborne’s mother once encouraged her to join the Vancouver Bach Choir in an attempt to harness her voice, rather than polish it.

herself, let her sing.’ My everyone back home will get very nervous, thinkmother happens to be a ing something’s up—but nieces and nephews or “I was always going at 100 percent, I guess, physiologist, so that made a lot of sense to her. She godchildren or the children of my friends. I think when it came to music.” held me back for another couple of years, and I the closest thing that I have met to an angel is Indeed, Osborne’s early passion verged on the think that was really good for me. It’s not neces- a child, so when in one of the recitatives it says all-consuming, to the extent that her mother en- sarily best to be pushing your limits at that ‘And suddenly there were with the angels couraged her to join the Vancouver Bach Choir in early a stage.” a multitude of heavenly hosts,’ I see the an attempt to harness her voice, rather than polish Osborne’s return to Vancouver little face of my little niece. From the Check out… it. It was a good call. as the soprano soloist in the Bach STRAIGHT.COM day that I started singing it, I’ve seen “I kept bothering her about singing lessons— Choir’s Messiah, now under the her little face, and it’s pretty easy for Visit our website and initially, she put me in the Bach Choir, hoping baton of music director Leslie Dala, me to tap into that image! for morning-after that it would tame my need for vocalizing all the isn’t going to tax her vocal limits “It would seem like, you know, reviews and local arts news time,” she says. “And then about a year later I had overmuch. As she notes, “Now I maybe if you don’t come from a prokept bothering her about lessons, so finally she crack open the score and take a look foundly faith-based background, that it went up to Bruce and said, ‘Listen, Mr. Pullan. at those runs in Messiah and I think, must be difficult to break into these pieces,” She sings all day and all night. I can’t shut her up, ‘Oh, this isn’t that bad. It’s really just a couple of Osborne adds. “But it’s no more difficult than it is and I don’t know that it’s healthy, ’cause she lit- patterns. It’s fi ne!’ So it’s funny how things come to break into Romeo and Juliet, where I’m going erally never stops. Should I give her some singing to you when they’re supposed to.” to drink some poison because I think he’s dead lessons?’ And he said, ‘Well, you know, she’s 14, More of a stretch for the singer, who was raised without checking his pulse.” and frankly, I don’t really think that young people in a nonreligious environment, is bringing believShe laughs again, and then gets serious. “It’s all should have singing lessons until they’re about 16 ability to arias that are, for the most part, about about creativity, I guess, and imagination.” That, years old, because their bodies haven’t finished angelic visitations. And even here she’s arrived at and a very big voice put to very good use. changing.…Let her grow up a little bit, physio- an elegant solution. logically, and then you can talk about lessons. “I’m now of an age where a lot of children have The Vancouver Bach Choir presents Handel’s MesAs long as she’s not shouting, and she’s enjoying come into my life,” she explains. “Not my own— siah at the Orpheum on Saturday (December 12).

THINGS TO DO

ARTS High five

Editor’s choice POETRY IN MOTION If you’ve never entered the dreamlike chamber of Tracey Power’s Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, you’re in for a treat. In an atmospheric room covered in peeling, manuscriptlike wallpaper and piled high with balled-up pages, a writer takes us into the world of Leonard Cohen’s serene, sexy songs—given fresh arrangements by Steven Charles and brought to life by the show’s super-talented cast. It’s heady, sensual stuff—and it’ll leave you marvelling at Cohen’s output of poetry and song. Chelsea Hotel is at New Westminster’s Anvil Centre Theatre until Sunday (December 13) and the Firehall Arts Centre from Tuesday (December 15) to January 9.

Five events you just can’t miss this week

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: ON THE AIR (To January 2 at Pacific Theatre) The Dickens classic gets a cool ’40s-radio treatment.

DARK SISTERS (To December 12 at the Vancouver Playhouse) Nico Muhly’s rich, haunting score is the highlight of Vancouver Opera’s polygamist tale.

GWAII HAANAS (At the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art to March 27) Artists reflect mesmerizingly on the magic of Haida Gwaii.

HANSEL AND GRETEL (To January 3 at the York Theatre) Veda Hille really rocks the keyboard for the East Van Panto’s whacked-out antics.

THE LADY SHOW (At Little Mountain Gallery on December 11) Female comedians bring the laughs, with names like Erica Sigurdson, Morgan Brayton, and Robyn Daye Edwards.

Guest pick

MUSIC FOR THE WINTER SOLSTICE Cellist Marina Hasselberg performs next at Novo Ensemble’s Echoes on January 16 at the Dominion Building. Here’s the show she recommends: “Music on Main’s Music for the Winter Solstice, created by composer Caroline Shaw [shown here] and artistic director Dave Pay, comes with a promise of ‘luminous music for dark nights’. Dave has a super power of treating audiences with highly original and enjoyable programs, and the artists are a fantastic mix of local and out-of-town performers and composers. This evening will be a great way to welcome the day when the sun starts slowly coming back into our lives!” Music for the Winter Solstice is at Heritage Hall on Friday (December 11).

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 31

ARTS

CHOR LEONI Erick Lichte

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

ALL THE JOY AND BEAUTY OF THE FESTIVE SEASON

December 18, 2015

ST. ANDREW’S-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH 4:30 PM & 8PM

December 19, 2015 WEST VANCOUVER UNITED CHURCH 2 PM

TicketsTonight.ca | 1.877.840.0457 1 /Ê/ /-Ê ," ÊfÎäÊNÊ-/1 /-Êf£äÊÊUÊÊALL SEATS RESERVED

Former Goh Ballet Academy student Frances Chung has become a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. The Nutcracker is still a favourite for her.

Goh Ballet student returns as a star > B Y A LE XAN DER VAR TY

foundation to be able to grow from.” Dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy to Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s music is a bit different than what Chung’s been up to in Mexico City. There, she’s been part of the annual Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, where she’s been helping emerging choreographer Myles Thatcher develop new work under the guidance of American Ballet Theatre artist in residence Alexei Ratmansky. Understandably, she hasn’t even had time to look at Anna-Marie Holmes’s notes for the Goh version of the seasonal classic, but jumping from the very new to the truly timeless doesn’t faze Chung in the least. “It’s something that I’ve been doing ever since I became a professional dancer,” she notes. “It’s what all the major ballet companies are doing. We still do all the classics—Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, stuff like that—but we have several new choreographers come in every year, and so we’re always learning new works. “And, you know, because I’ve done Nutcracker for the last 15 years I know the music very well,” she adds. “It’s Tchaikovsky and it’s very easy to count to, so learning a new version is not as challenging as learning a new piece.” Beyond that, Chung is looking forward to making her long-delayed local debut as a professional. “I left when I was 17, and I’m 32 now, and this is my first performance back in Vancouver,” she says, noting that members of her extended family have been snapping up tickets for opening night. “So I’m excited to be back home and performing for the city I grew up and trained in.” -

he great W. C. Fields was known for telling his fellow thespians not to work with children or animals, but that’s advice Frances Chung is perfectly willing to ignore. This weekend, when Chung stars in Goh Ballet’s annual Christmas production of The Nutcracker, she’ll be sharing the stage with dozens of kids and a scurrying army of mice, yet she’s quick to assure the Straight that she doesn’t anticipate any problems. “You know, children are a lot more professional than you would probably give them credit for,” the Bay Area–based dancer says in a Skype interview from Mexico City. “All the kids we work with at the San Francisco Ballet school, and I know for sure with the Goh Ballet, they’ll be at the right place at the right time. And also they’ve probably been rehearsing Nutcracker for the last year, so I’m not worried about it at all!” Chung says this from experience. Not only has she been principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet since 2009, she got her start right here in Vancouver, as a student at the Goh Ballet Academy. “It was all-encompassing,” she notes. “We spent all day and all night training. I mean, I probably spend more time training now, actually, but Goh Ballet gave me the best foundation I could have as a classicalballet dancer. There are different styles in classical ballet: there’s the Russian style, the French style, the English style, and I got a taste of everything. Now, working with a professional company, we often do works by French choreographers and then something Goh Ballet presents The Nutcracker that’s a little more Russian-based, at the Centre in Vancouver for Perso they gave me a really, really good forming Arts from December 17 to 22.

CHARLIE HUNTER TRIO • DEC. 12 @ 8 PM Grammy nominated guitarist/composer Charlie Hunter with long-time collaborators trombone master, Curtis Fowlkes and drum maestro Bobby Previte

IN A BLUE MOON • JAN. 18 @ 8 PM GREAT GIFT IDEA!

A visually beautiful take on finding home in unexpected places

A TRIBUTE TO BILLY STRAYHORN JAN. 29 @ 8 PM

WITH “A” BAND & NITECAP AND FACULTY GUESTS

A tribute to one of the great jazz composers

Tickets: 604.990.7810 • Online: capilanou.ca/centre Capilano University • 2055 Purcell Way • North Vancouver

32 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 33

— The Georgia Straight

— The Vancouver Sun

Theatre Replacement’s

PHOTO of THE CAST of

34 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

by EMILY COOPER

ARTS

LOOK

FOR OUR

TOP MOVIES

LETTERS: MICHAEL MORRIS AND CONCRETE POETRY

ISSUE COMING DECEMBER 24 ➤TO ADVERTISE CALL

604-730-7000

Heidi Krutzen, snagged by London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, creates soundworlds with cellist Ariel Barnes at Music for the Winter Solstice. Jan Gates photo.

Local harp star puts strings to the solstice After Heidi Krutzen’s Couloir duo appearance at the Music on Main concert, she jets off for London > BY A LEX A NDER VA R TY

eidi Krutzen’s big Christmas present came early: a contract naming the Vancouver musician as the new principal harpist of London, England’s Philharmonia Orchestra. But what initially looks like a loss for local music might soon prove a boon, as Krutzen explains in a telephone interview from her Kitsilano digs. “Vancouver’s my home, so I’ll be keeping a harp here, and I think I’ll be back and forth fairly often,” she says. “But one of the numerous things that I’m very excited about with this new transition is that it’s going to provide a wonderful, more international platform to share all of the amazing Canadian music that is going on in our country. We have some of the most incredible composers here, and I’m a big champion of new music, so I’m really looking forward to sharing Canadian music on an even larger stage.” There’s obvious spinoff potential, too, for Krutzen’s three Vancouver groups: the Krutzen/ McGhee Duo, Trio Verlaine, and Couloir, her innovative duo with cellist Ariel Barnes. Local listeners will get a chance to hear that last unit one more time before its distaff half jets off to a bigger spotlight, with the charismatic duo being one of the featured acts in Music on Main’s annual Music for the Winter Solstice concert. And, true to the mandate that Krutzen is taking with her to London, the focus will be on new works by living composers. Couloir’s program was still being set at press time; among the possibilities is music from Caroline Shaw, MoM’s composer in residence. (Shaw herself will be in attendance, singing, playing violin, and leading an audience sing-along of her “Winter Carol”.) Definitely in the cards, however, is James Beckwith Maxwell’s Serere, originally written as a dance score for Ballet Kelowna. “Serere means ‘to join, to link, or to bind together’. And that connects to Couloir in different ways,” Krutzen says of the electroacous-

tic composition. “We’re interested in working with different media, and with different types of artists, and also within the music we’re trying to create there’s that whole notion of joining and linking and binding together. “It’s a piece that needs to be experienced, and it’s sort of a journey,” she continues. “It’s really hard to describe, actually, because it has so many different aspects to it, from extremely peaceful and serene to extremely lyrical and sad— at times Ari almost sounds like a cantor—to extremely rhythmic and aggressive. At times, it even has more of an alternative kind of feel to it. James and I actually go way back: we’ve known each other since high school, when he was the drummer in a band, and so that’s one of the many inf luences in his music. It covers a huge scope.” Two versions of Serere—acoustic and electroacoustic—will feature on Couloir’s next CD, along with Dark Sisters composer Nico Muhly’s Clear Music. And although distance is soon to separate the duo’s partners, their sonic bond seems strong. “The feedback on the duo is always that the soundworlds we create are just limitless,” Krutzen notes. “And we’re so excited by that that we just keep finding new things and exploring new depths. For example, with one of our commissions last year, by the wonderful [Newfoundland-based] composer Andrew Staniland, the character word at the top of the piece says ‘Metallica’. We were like, ‘Right on!’ It’s so much fun to play that kind of music, because it really throws the idea of cello and harp on its head,” she continues. “I mean, we do a few transcriptions—Debussy and that kind of thing— that are a little more mainstream, but we’re really trying to find a whole new language, and a new way of moving our instruments forward.” Couloir performs at Heritage Hall on Friday (December 11), as part of Music on Main’s Music for the Winter Solstice. For more information, visit www.musiconmain.ca/.

THE WIZARD OF OZ By L. Frank Baum • With Music & Lyrics by Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg Background Music by Herbert Stothart • Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard Orchestration by Larry Wilcox • Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company BASED UPON THE CLASSIC MOTION PICTURE OWNED BY TURNER ENTERTAINMENT CO. & DISTRIBUTED IN ALL MEDIA BY WARNER BROS.

“...A classic musical celebration of color and spectacle.” BROADWAY WORLD

DECEMBER 10, 2015–JANUARY 3, 2016 • MainStage

Colette Richardson

•

David Cooper, photo

604.270.1812 gatewaytheatre.com DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 35

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DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 37

ARTS

Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet

The Nutcracker Choreography Edmund Stripe Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Music Performed by The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Set & Costume Design Zack Brown Lighting Design Pierre Lavoie

Dec 29 30 Dec 30 31

Above, Jim Byrnes hopes to show the world can change in Bah! Humbug!, while Andrew Wheeler sympathizes with his characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s origins in Ebenezer.

Actors give two timely takes on Scrooge

7:30pm 2:00pm

Queen Elizabeth Theatre balletbc.com | ticketmaster.ca GOLD SEASON SPONSOR

HOTEL SPONSOR

MEDIA PARTNER

MEDIA SPONSORS

> B Y A ND REA WARN ER

SUPPORT FOR BALLET BC HAS BEEN GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY

ARTISTS OF ALBERTA BALLET. PHOTO BY DARREN MAKOIVICHUK.

Celebrate with Strauss Waltzes and Operetta Excerpts, featuring European Singers, Dancers and Full Orchestra!

Strauss Symphony of Canada AndrĂĄs DeĂĄk, conductor (Budapest) Sera GĂśsch, Â&#x2022;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2018; Č&#x2039; Â&#x2039;Â&#x2021;Â?Â?Â&#x192;Č&#x152; Č&#x2C6; Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D; Ă?Â?Ă&#x161;Â&#x2022;, tenor (Vienna) Featuring dancers from Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine & International Champion Ballroom Dancers

ORPHEUM THEATRE

TICKETS: 604.876.3434 vancouversymphony.ca VIP Tickets Available

featuring

20th Annual Performance in Vancouver!

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January 1, 2016 at 2:30 pm Info: 1.800.545.7807 salutetovienna.com

38 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17 / 2015

Presented by:

ore than 170 years after Charles Dickensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Christmas Carol was first published, two local theatre companies are finding new life in the story of an embittered, spiteful capitalist who is forced into a spirit quest and made to confront his horrible ways. Seven Tyrants Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ebenezer and SFU/Full Circleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bah! Humbug! both offer wildly different takes on Dickensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic. Ebenezer is an original rock musical that focuses on the most macabre aspects of the story, while Bah! Humbug! is set in the Downtown Eastside, where spirits emerge from Coast Salish land and musical numbers range from blues to gospel to industrial rock. But what doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change, despite the drastically different interpretations, is the journey of Ebenezer Scrooge. The Straight spoke with both Scroogesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Ebenezerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jessie Awardâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;winning Andrew Wheeler and Bah! Humbug!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Juno Awardâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; winning Jim Byrnesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;separately, over the phone during rehearsal breaks. For both actors, playing the iconic role has offered up interesting moments of reflection as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are things that I love about Christmas and things I hate about Christmas, and as I rehearse the show Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m reminded about both sides of the coin,â&#x20AC;? Wheeler says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough of Christmas music, I could listen to it all day. My father is a classical musician and our house was always filled with a certain type of music at this time of year and it always pulls me in. I also raised children in a blended family and Christmastime was always a huge set of negotiations.â&#x20AC;? Byrnes sees some of himself in Scroogeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bad temper. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you talk to my wife, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll really call me a grumpy person,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But you realize, like a lot of your life, you pretend to hate something because it reminds you of yourself, reminds you of your own weaknesses. In going through this guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark and hateful moods, you realize things about yourself.â&#x20AC;? Scroogeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s darkness is the focal point of Ebenezer, which Wheeler says is equal parts Halloween and Christmas. He calls it a â&#x20AC;&#x153;ghost story told by ghosts for ghostsâ&#x20AC;?. In this case, the ghost of Jacob Marley,

Scroogeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former business partner, drives the story forward, but we also must go backwards to Scroogeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earliest days to fully understand how he got to this point. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jacob wants Scrooge to get this chance that he never had, to change things and avoid the eternal condemnation of walking the earth in the chains he forged himself,â&#x20AC;? Wheeler says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the things I noticed as we began was this tremendous sense of abandonment Scrooge felt as a child at being sent away to school and not making as many friends as heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have liked. Everybody left at term to go back to their families, but it was too far for him to go and he used to spend Christmases by himself at school. Those would inform a whole bunch of the values that you then take into your adult life.â&#x20AC;? Byrnes also has tremendous sympathy for his characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s origins, a journey he says that Bah! Humbug! also explores in depth, which makes Scroogeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awakening all the more powerful. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When he has the epiphany and sees that if he can change, the world can change, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something I think we have to remind ourselves of every day,â&#x20AC;? Byrnes says. Both actors believe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a theme thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particularly relevant in 2015. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The problems of Victorian England still present themselves every day,â&#x20AC;? Byrnes says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about charity; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about levelling the playing field. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to make people realize that as opposed to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh, I can settle my conscience by writing a cheque or taking a can of food to the Food Bank.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than that. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about putting everybody on an equal playing field, and by that way making the world a better place.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What this story is trying to say is to honour Christmas all year long and to keep it in your hearts. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just a 12-day thing,â&#x20AC;? Wheeler says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The story, for Scrooge, is an invitation for him to join the human race again. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an invitation to humanity, and at this time of the year, and I suppose in this epoch as well, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a better time for a story like this.â&#x20AC;? SFU/Full Circleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bah! Humbug! runs to December 20 at SFU Woodwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. Seven Tyrants Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ebenezer runs to January 2 at the Jericho Arts Centre.

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 39

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Starring Lucia Frangione & Susan Anderson Original direction and choreography by Jeff Hyslop Additional direction and dramaturgy by Max Reimer Music by Matt Grinke and the 10 Piece North Pole Orchestra Book by Bill Allman, Alan Marriott & Kevin O’Brien

December 2 - 20 Presentation House Theatre 333 Chesterfield, North Vancouver Tickets: 604-990-3474 www.phtheatre.org Produced by GTI with the generous support of Famous Artists Limited

hen Vancouver’s NorthWest Comedy Fest announced that it had teamed up with the prestigious Just for Laughs festival back in October, West Coast comedy nerds felt a twinge of anticipatory excitement. Today, the newly created JFL NorthWest has announced an impressive lineup for its inaugural shindig, running February 18 to 27 at venues throughout the Lower Mainland. The biggest name on the bill is the new host of The Daily Show, South African standup Trevor Noah, who headlines the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on February 19. Considered the most successful comedian in all of Africa, Noah exploded onto the North American market with his appearance at the 2013 Just for Laughs festival in Montreal. This will be his first appearance in Vancouver. There are other newbies to the area too, including Hasan Minhaj, who started as a correspondent on The Daily Show at the same time as Noah. Minhaj, also a standup comic, is still filing for the program, now under his new boss. He plays the Rio Theatre on February 20. That same night, YouTube sensation Miranda Sings brings her quirky “lipshtick” to the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. And Bert Kreischer, author of Life of the Party: Stories of a Perpetual Man-Child and host of the travel show Trip Flip, plays the Rio Theatre on February 21. Returning to the city will be the softening bluntness of Wanda Sykes (Queen Elizabeth Theatre, February 24), the raving-mad Lewis Black (Hard Rock Casino, February 28), and the hilariously understated Todd Barry, who will perform three different shows over three nights— his regular standup, his crowd-work show, and his podcast (Yuk Yuk’s, February 25 to 27). Also appearing will be the eternally miserable Jeremy Hotz (Vogue Theatre, February 26), matter-offact storyteller Kyle Kinane (Biltmore Cabaret, February 26), musical deadpan absurdist Nick Thune (Biltmore Cabaret, February 20), huggable sitcom star Ron Funches (Biltmore Cabaret, February 24), and a couple of alternative politicos, Janeane Garofalo (Rio Theatre, February 23 and 24) and Hari Kondabolu (Biltmore Cabaret, February 25). As well, one of the longestrunning and most popular offerings from Montreal will be making its way west—the Nasty Show, featuring the always politically incorrect Bobby Slayton as host. The “Pitbull of Comedy” will introduce Kurt Metzger, Big Jay Oakerson, Tony Hinchcliffe, and Vancouver’s Kathleen McGee (Rio Theatre, February 23 to 27). Other high-profile local acts will also be featured. Comedy magician Wes Barker, who recently got the better of Penn & Teller on their TV show Penn & Teller: Fool Us, will be fooling us at the Vogue Theatre on February 19. And tricksters of another sort, Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring, will be offering us a glimpse behind the curtain of their awardwinning radio show with This Is That Live, at the Vogue Theatre on February 27. And regular Vancouver shows will be included in the festivities, such as Instagraham, with Graham Clark, Kyle Bottom’s Comedy Bucket, Alicia Tobin’s Come Draw With Me, and more. Vancouver is the fourth festival location for the Just for Laughs Group, joining Toronto, Sydney, and the flagship Montreal festival. Tickets go on sale Friday (December 11) at 10 a.m. at jflnorthwest.com/.

ARTS

Nicolas Sassoon and Rick Silva’s SIGNALS gives rolling ocean waves the appearance of an oil slick, thanks to the imposition of irridescent patterns.

Optical art melds with moving digital images Nicolas Sassoon and Rick Silva’s huge projection maps the interface between technology and nature > B Y R OB IN L A URE NCE

scape are somehow crossing with something technological or toxic or chemical,” Sassoon says. “An indeterminate element.” Born and educated in France, with an MFA in new media and interactivity from the École Européenne Supérieure de l’Image in Angoulême, Sassoon moved to Vancouver in 2008. He was drawn here, he says, by his interest in North American culture and by the work of internationally renowned local artists Stan Douglas and Jeff Wall. He made the move in the company of his closest friend, Sylvain Sailly, who is also a frequent collaborator. Together with Sara Ludy, Sassoon and Sailly have formed the digital collective WALLPAPERS, and most recently exhibited at the Vancouver Art Gallery. In addition to his online art exhibitions, Sassoon has had impressive solo shows in local, national, and international galleries. Sitting now in front of his computer, he says he tends to focus more on the optical experience of his chosen medium than on its literal meaning. “What’s interesting to me about screen-based work and computer graphics is to try to create contemplative or meditative experiences,” he explains. Then he adds that as a kid playing computer games in the 1980s and ’90s, he was more fascinated by the way the graphic interfaces looked than by the game itself. “To me, screens have always been about this very strong aesthetic experience”—as compelling as the aesthetics inherent in painting, film, or photography. Sassoon is also drawn to moiré patterns, a wavery optical effect in digital media caused by one pattern or grid being superimposed on another. Older viewers may associate moiré with an expensive surface treatment of silk fabric, younger viewers with its occurrence as an undesirable artifact in digital scanning or photography. For Sassoon, however, it is an effect rich in philosophical as well as visual possibilities. “Moiré is an optical phenomenon that bridges the physical and digital worlds by existing in both realms,” he says. “There is something very poetic and inherently fantastical about this and I try to explore it in my work.” -

isitors to Nicolas Sassoon’s East Vancouver studio might already have encountered a version of it online—a virtual representation of where and how he makes his art. Among the animated GIFs created by this fast-rising computer artist and posted to his website (www.nicolassassoon.com/ )—and featured, too, in laudatory articles and reviews on other digital-art sites—is a flickering rendering of his basement workspace. Depicting a high-tech setup in the unlikely environment of a down-market recreation room, it includes representations of fake wood panelling and a homely brick fireplace. Also evident in both the virtual and actual interiors is a moving abstraction on a wall-mounted screen—Sassoon’s 21st-century version of 1960s op art. His current practice is exemplified by the pixelated patterns and simplified 3-D style of his animated GIFs, intentionally referencing early computer games. “My work is heavily influenced by the history of computer graphics,” he tells the Straight. “And it is also influenced by kinetic art and optical art.” Sassoon has created a large portfolio of moving digital images, from pure abstractions to fantasy visions of architectural structures that address both utopian and dystopian possibilities. Recently, he has also been exploring the fraught interface between computer technology and the natural world, as seen in the panoramic, galleryfilling video that he and Portland artist Rick Silva are exhibiting at Wil Aballe Art Projects. Titled SIGNALS and opening Thursday night (December 10), the monumental projection depicts rolling ocean waves that appear to be covered in an oily slick, an impression created by the imposition of an iridescent moiré pattern on the digitized sea. “Rick and I have a common interest in Pacific Northwest landscape and how it can be translated through computer technology,” Sassoon says. “We have different areas of expertise—Rick is more versed in realistic 3-D rendering, while I focus more on pixelated patterns and primitive 3-D.” Their most recent collaboration, from a series of related SIGNALS runs at Wil Aballe Art Proworks, has a foreboding, sci-fi jects (105–1356 Frances Street) from mood to it. “Elements of the land- Thursday (December 10) to January 9.

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ARTS

East Van Panto ups its playful holiday game TH E AT RE HANSEL AND GRETEL: AN EAST VAN PANTO By Charles Demers. Directed by Stephen Drover. A Theatre Replacement production, presented by the Cultch. At the York Theatre on Friday, December 4. Continues until January 3

There’s a moment in Hansel and

2 Gretel: An East Van Panto that

made me a particularly happy man. Playing the wicked stepmother, Allan Zinyk sports a pink beehive and rocks a pink brocade skirt, jacket, and matching sneakers. He belts out a tune as children dressed as woodland creatures scurry around him. Now, that’s what I call holiday entertainment. Now in their third year, Theatre Replacement’s pantos just keep getting better because they keep getting wilder. Veda Hille’s witty musical contributions have always been a huge part of their success. This year, nodding to Hansel and Gretel’s Germanic roots, the show starts with the vamp from Cabaret’s “Willkommen” and blooms into a full, Bob Fosse–like number in which the blond twins dance in front of a chorus of bearded, plaid-wearing East Van hipsters. That music transforms, somehow, into the theme from Gilligan’s Island, and somewhere in there, we get the self-deprecating lyric “This is not A Christmas Carol/It’s the bottom of the barrel.” Charles Demers’s script establishes its left-wing bona fides early on. Urging the audience to cheer more loudly, the narrator, Barry Easta, who works at a local coffee shop, prods, “Let’s pretend you live in a country where Stephen Harper is no longer in charge of anything.” That brought the house down. And there are plenty of witty references to local events: to put Hansel and Gretel to sleep in the wilds of Stanley Park, where she will soon abandon them,

slick commercial products. Watch- be displaced Italians. In an endless ing Hansel and Gretel: An East Van gag, they converse in a language that Panto feels like playing with friends. consists of words like lasagna and > COLIN THOMAS cacciatore. They burst into hysterics when Molly introduces herself PETER AND THE STARbecause “In our language, Molly CATCHER means ‘squid poop’.” Throughout, there are lots of fart jokes, and there By Rick Elice. Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Music are a number of asides that aspire to metatheatricality, but are just smartby Wayne Barker. Directed by David ass. “Uck,” says Molly. “This training Mackay. An Arts Club production. At the Goldcorp Stage in the BMO Theatre bra is so irksome.” The musical is designed to be perCentre on Wednesday, December 2. formed in the story-theatre style, Continues until December 27 which means that the cast memPeter and the Starcatcher tries bers narrate the tale, and transform very, very, very hard to be en- themselves or simple objects into tertaining. Mostly, this is very, very anything the story needs. This apboring, but sometimes it pays off. proach can be charming, and it’s As Wicked is a prequel to The Wiz- cool when Boy gets tossed into the ard of Oz, Peter and the Starcatcher is a ocean and sinks beneath waves that prequel to Peter Pan. In Act 1, two ships are indicated only with lighting and set sail from England to the imaginary a length of rope. The plot is so busy, kingdom of Rundoon. On the Wasp, contrived, and meaningless, howLord Aster is carrying out a diplomatic ever, that the use of this style, like mission for Queen Victoria. Sailing to the jokes in Starcatcher, mostly looks meet her father, but on the slower, safer like hollow showing-off. route taken by the Neverland, Lord That said, Lauchlin Johnston’s set, Aster’s 13-year-old daughter Molly which riffs on the elements of a ship’s discovers three orphans in the hold. deck and rigging, is handsome. And One of them is simply called Boy, but there are some excellent performif you’re paying attention, you’ll know ances in director David Mackay’s that he’ll soon get a better name—with production. The role of the pirate matching initials. captain Black Stache is a complete There’s a treasure, a sea chest full ham sandwich and Colleen Wheeler of something called star stuff, which chomps down with gusto. As Smee, is dangerous because it allows you to Emmelia Gordon also understands be exactly who you want to be. Pirates the importance of wallowing in the covet this chest—can you imagine the silliness. Rachel Cairns, who plays street value of that kind of drug?—and Molly, has an amazing ability to tell it becomes Molly’s mission to keep the the truth as an actor, simply and afstar stuff out of piratical hands. fectingly. And Benjamin Wardle This setup might pay off, and there (Boy) is similarly grounded and are quick flashes of humanity in the touching. This is not a cast of strong writing—“Something about the boy singers, however, and the level of makes Molly feel like she just grew performance is inconsistent. up a little”—but playwright Rick Peter and the Starcatcher is a Elice is such a compulsive joker that manic distraction. We should exhe doesn’t let that humanity develop. pect more from the theatre than we In Act 2, Molly and Boy encoun- expect from our cellphones. > COLIN THOMAS ter a tribe of folks who turn out to

Dawn Petten plays freewheeling Hansel to Maiko Yamamoto’s Gretel in an East Van Panto that’s loaded with laughs and musical parodies. Emily Cooper photo.

the stepmother gives the two kids a summary of the voting patterns in the recent transit plebiscite. Pantos are all about excess, and director Stephen Drover grabs that sensibility and sticks his tongue down its throat, leaning unabashedly into the mirror-ball effect, for instance. The material gets a little sketchier in Act 2, which starts with a fun sing-along, then wanders into a less fruitful parody of a cooking show. Don’t cooking shows already parody themselves? The lull, which goes on for a while, gave me the chance to wish that there was more political satire, including more pointed parody of East Van self-righteousness. But, blessedly, Hansel and Gretel didn’t let me stay in my critical head for too long. In the second act, Zinyk plays the witch as well as the stepmom and his witchy voice sounds like Carol Channing speaking from hell. Throughout, Zinyk’s shtick,

including some lipstick business, is fantastic. And Dawn Petten is the heart of the show: her Hansel is a fully realized clown, full of braggadocio and innocent charm. A more reserved performer, Maiko Yamamoto sometimes looks out of place in the wild world of pantomime. Here, however, her understatement as Gretel makes an effective counterpoint to Petten’s freewheeling Hansel. Playing the father, the narrator, and a gingerbread man named Ginger Brad, Josue Laboucane, who left Vancouver a few years ago as a promising emerging performer, returns from the Stratford Festival as a versatile and polished pro. Marina Szijarto’s costumes are ridiculously good. Just wait till you see Hansel after he’s been fattened up. And Laura Zerebeski’s painterly backdrops, which the company has used every year, continue to stun. Many holiday shows feel like

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ARTS

She’s ba-a-ack: the garish monarch that audience members love to hate.

Craziness abounds with new Queen COM E D Y THE CHRISTMAS QUEEN 2: YOU BETTER WATCH OUT At the Improv Centre on Thursday, December 3. Continues until December 20

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running, it’s a tradition that must be upheld. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a new one. And so does Vancouver TheatreSports with the second incarnation of Christmas Queen. It’s a big, colourful production with more bells and whistles than most shows at the Improv Centre. The plot points are different this time around, but it’s still the same garishly outlandish monarch we love to hate. With the cross-dressing Queen and cheers and boos directed at heroes and villains, it’s in the style of a family-friendly panto. But this being improv comedy, the occasional double (or single) entendre is loosed in the moment. It’s all good. They’ll fly over the heads of the young’uns or become the favourite moments of the preteens like my kid. This year, the Queen (played on opening night by the larger-thanlife Pearce Visser) visits Santa’s workshop. Ruffles the narrator (Denise Jones) leads us to the North Pole and introduces us to elves Smarty (Brian Cook), Party (Michael Teigen), Farty (Margret Nyfors), and Marty (Nathan Clark), and eventually to the guileless St. Nick (Andrew Barber), who met CQ on vacation and brought her back with him. It was all on the up-andup, since dear old Mrs. Claus went missing ages ago. But the Queen can’t mask her true intentions for long. She wants Christmas done away with. In one of the best scenes of the night, Visser gives a tour-de-force performance eviscerating the elves (and occasional audience members) one by one while Santa is out. And the elves aren’t too shabby themselves, cowering in her wake. Barber also stood out as Santa, particularly in the bedroom argument scene with his new love. When the Queen complains that Santa cares more about his work than about her, he screams, “I work one day a year!” and “This is my passion!” It didn’t end well for him, as the Queen tied him up with her crochet yarn so he’d miss the big night. And miss it he did. But it was early enough in the show that there was time to get Christmas back. I won’t reveal how, since that is a major element of the story (audience suggestions fill in the details), but it’s pretty great. This is theatre of the imagination, after all, where anything can happen. Kudos to creators Denise Jones and Brian Anderson for the craziness, and to the actors for pulling it all off.

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DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 43

BOOKS

Looking back on favourites > BY BR IA N LYNCH

nother year has streaked by, and the time has come again for our annual selection of outstanding books. The undertaking has been as impossible as ever, what with all the great publications from the past 12 months. But it’s one way of recognizing the pagebased experiences that’ll stay with us and, if there’s any such thing as justice, with the reading public at large. Best of all, for this edition we asked a stellar group of figures from Vancouver’s literary community to give us their picks. You can read their responses below, where you’ll also notice that we’ve kept everyone to a single choice this time around (with the exception of the Vancouver Public Library, because, well… because the Vancouver Public Library is a big place with a lot of people in it). JORDAN ABEL (author) Here’s the thing—Marilyn Dumont’s The Pemmican Eaters is easily my favourite book of 2015. And I think, for the most part, it’s because Dumont’s writing investigates Indigeneity and Métis identity through a gutted poetics that isn’t afraid to include long strips of raw thought that hang in stark opposition to colonial thought processes. The Pemmican Eaters is an unfl inching and necessary book. WAYDE COMPTON (author) The

novel Loving Day, by Mat Johnson, is a narrative thought experiment that asks, “What if mixed-race outcasts formed a cult that celebrated racial ambiguity?” It’s a zany premise, but anyone whose racial appearance is unclear will recognize in it a familiar desire to rewrite our terms of cultural reference. Johnson also knows that the problem of writing mixed-race has historically been one of how to escape false binaries: either/ or; neither/nor; or “best of both worlds”—none of which fit anyone’s lived truths. Instead, he gives us something new: a hilariously existential novel that rightly revels in the absurd.

JULIA LIN (author) In an age of Canadian government apologies for the Chinese head tax and formal acknowledgment of Vancouver’s location on unceded aboriginal lands comes a book that reminds us of our past. Written by historian and acclaimed children’s author Paul Yee, A Superior Man recounts a Chinese coolie’s bid to abandon his mixedrace First Nations son as he prepares to return to China. The story depicts the lowest strata of 1880s society at a time when B.C. was the Wild West and Chinese labourers formed the backbone of the CPR workforce. Rampant racism and rough living on the lawless frontier are vividly portrayed through nonstop action and ribald language. This is a historical novel with bite.

all, not society at large. As the first detective assigned to Vancouver’s m i s si ng-a nd-mu rdere d-women investigation, she has written a book that proves how the ongoing marginalization of women in the sex trade allowed Pickton to continue killing years after he was first identified as a suspect. Even more troubling, there have been no systematic changes that would prevent another Pickton from striking tomorrow.

OUR CRITICS WEIGH IN Here, a lineup of the Straight’s regular books-section contribu-

2 tors take their own crack at the crazy-making task of narrowing 2015’s field down to one title.

VPL READERS ADVISORY LIBRARIANS The Vancouver Pub-

lic Library is proud to be the city’s bookshelf, and our reading experts have pooled their talents to present three titles representing the very best of our nation’s literary scene in 2015. SuperMutant Magic Academy, the anthology of Jillian Tamaki’s popular Tumblr comic, shows how graphic novels can be re-imagined online and transported back to the print world. Lori Shenher’s That Lonely Section of Hell lays bare both the institutional and societal failings that resulted in the near failure of the Downtown Eastside missing-women’s case: it is documentary nonfiction as an indictment of collective indifference. Lastly, Marry & Burn, the poetry collection by Vancouver’s laureate Rachel Rose, shatters the form’s tropes with its stark verse and affecting images.

PIKE (executive director, Word Vancouver) My choice is George Bowering’s collection of short stories 10 Women. Initially, I picked up the book because I was drawn to the “voice” of George Bowering, a voice I became familiar with when we travelled together by van throughout the HAL WAKE (artOkanagan as part of istic director, Vanthe B.C. Book Prizcouver Writers Fest) es Tour. 10 Women The Nature of the didn’t disappoint; I Beast by the Cancould hear George’s adian writer Louvoice clearly, a true ise Penny opens voice. I also really with a frantic chase like how he’s able through a forest to—as they call it in rural Quebec in theatre—break and the pace lets down the “third up only occasionwall” between the ally throughout the stage (the stories) rest of the novel. and the audience (the reader). These stories are great snip- Penny’s 11-book series features pets of life, universal scenarios, and Inspector Armand Gamache (rtd) and once again we get caught up in straightforward—like George. the challenges in his personal life, RACHEL ROSE (Vancouver’s poet as well as a crime of immense prolaureate) Detective Lori Shen- portions. The antagonist is a master her’s That Lonely Section of Hell manipulator, without a conscience, is a gripping, almost unbearable a foe of formidable proportions. true-crime tale that spares no one: It really is a battle between good not herself, not the other investi- and evil. If you are not familgators, either VPD or RCMP, not iar with the series, you will have those who were acquainted with the great pleasure of going back or accomplices of convicted serial and catching up on what you’ve killer Robert Pickton, and most of been missing. BRYAN

The Booker-shortlisted novel A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara, tracks four college friends— an attorney, actor, artist, and architect—through three decades, and is a portrait of fraternal love and the costs of sexual abuse. Unfl inching in both the care and harm detailed, Yanagihara conveys their successes and struggles with profound depth, while distinguishing herself as a writer who can truly mesmerize. > DAVID CHAU I almost chose to write about Garth Risk Hallberg’s back-breaking, 944-page tome City on Fire (set in filthy, punk-fuelled ’70s New York), but if you want a truly excellent book that captures the chaotic energy of that decade, a better bet is Elena Ferrante’s The Story of the Lost Child—which, if you get past the schmaltzy cover art, is an angry, engrossing novel that makes you love Naples, a city that never escaped its dirty past in the way New York did. > JENNIFER CROLL Hundreds of books about Bob Dylan have been published in the past 50 years. The biographies tend to be both repetitious and contradictory, while most of those on the music itself deal with his lyrics rather than his amazing melodic gifts. The smartest general work on the subject is Bob Dylan in America by Sean Wilentz (2010). But few people so far this year have noticed the most original title to date—The Dylanologists by David Kinney. It’s an amazing maze of revelations about Dylan addicts (fans is too small a word) and his relations to them. It’s written journalistically, but is a fascinating sociological study that’s full of surprises rather than mere surmises. > GEORGE FETHERLING Johann Hari’s Chasing the Scream is a thoroughly researched takedown of the war on drugs. At the core of the British journalist’s case is one simple point: even the most addictive illicit substances are more harmful to people when they remain illegal. He illustrates this argument almost entirely with anecdotal narratives and in-depth character profiles, several of which are rooted here in Vancouver and continue to play out today. It’s a fast-paced review of entrenched government policies, and I couldn’t put it down. > TRAVIS LUPICK Any well-made plot that focuses on a secret agent almost guarantees a page-turner, given all the treachery. But the communist mole who narrates Viet Thanh Nguyen’s brilliant debut novel, The Sympathizer, offers so much more. Awash in the 1970s, this subtle, sardonic confession of a nameless spy working in a Californian community of refugees deft ly upends the self-obsessed stories the United States has told about the Vietnam War. > BRIAN LYNCH Political economist Robert Reich’s Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few demonstrates that we’ve entered another Gilded Age, with the new robber barons controlling platforms such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. He shows how politicians pander to monopolistic CEOs by repeatedly passing laws allowing them to crush competitors, squelch innovation, and line their pockets. This rigged game has led to economic stagnation and rampant inequality, but according to Reich, it can be fixed. > CHARLIE SMITH

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holiday ar ts/ timeout CHRISTMAS 2OPENINGS BAH! HUMBUG! A new take on Charles Dickensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Christmas Carol sees local musician Jim Byrnes star as a modernday, sushi-loving Scrooge. Presented by SFU Woodwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cultural Programs and Vancouver Moving Theatre, in partnership with Full Circle Productions. Dec 10-19, 7:30-9 pm, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W. Hastings). Tix $29/15, info www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/events/ events1/2015-2016Fall/BahHumbug.html. WAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS Forbidden Vancouver presents writer-director Tiffany Andersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play about Christmas in 1915. Dec 12-19, 8-10 pm, Roedde House Museum (1415 Barclay). Tix $35/25, info www.forbid denvancouver.ca/war-for-the-holidays/.

2ONGOING A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL The Arts Club Theatre Company presents a festive musical about a young boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quest for an official Red Ryder carbineaction BB gun. Based on the 1983 film. To Dec 27, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (2750 Granville). Tix from $29, info www.artsclub.com/. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A WONDERFUL LIFE The Arts Club Theatre Company presents the holiday classic about an angel who helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. To Dec 26, Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnston, Granville Island). Tix from $29, info www.artsclub.com/. MRS. CLAUSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S KITCHEN Family-friendly holiday musical sees Mrs. Claus discover a magical recipe for drawing families together. To Dec 20, Presentation House Theatre (333 Chesterfield Ave., North Van). Tix from $15, info 604-990-3474, www.phtheatre.org/. HANSEL AND GRETEL: AN EAST VAN PANTO The Cultch presents Theatre Replacementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local spin on the classic fairy tale. Script by Charles Demers, with music by Veda Hille. Directed by Stephen Drover. To Jan 3, York Theatre (639 Commercial). Tix from $20, info www.thecultch.com/events/ hansel-and-gretel-an-east-van-panto/. CHRISTMAS CAROL: ON THE AIR Sara Rodgers directs a radio-play-style rendition of Charles Dickensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic Christmas tale of a miser who sees the error of his ways. To Jan 2, Pacific Theatre (1440 W. 12th). Tix $22.99-29.99, info www.pacifictheatre.org/season/2015-2016-season-3/ mainstage/a-christmas-carol-on-the-air/. ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS Kid-friendly play sees three princesses, an iceman, and a superhero share holiday memories as they wait for Santa. To Dec 13, 6:30 pm, Studio 1398 (1398 Cartwright, Granville Island). Tix $22, info onceupon achristmas.brownpapertickets.com/.

2THIS WEEK CHRISTMAS QUEEN 2 The Vancouver TheatreSports League presents a holidaythemed improv-comedy show that sees a larger-than-life fairy-tale character create chaos in Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop on Christmas Eve. To Dec 20, The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau, Granville Island). Tix $10-22, info www.vtsl.com/show/christmas-queen-2/. A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS Conductor Rosemary Thomson leads the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the UBC Opera Ensemble, and EnChor in a holiday-music tradition. Hosted by Christopher Gaze. Dec 10-13, St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-Wesley United

straight choices

WHITE CHRISTMAS The Vancouver Pops Choir, Vancouver Pops Symphony, and the VOC Piano Quartets present an afternoon of celebratory music and holiday favourites. Dec 13, 3-5 pm, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC). Tix $15-30, info www.chancentre.com/ whats-on/white-christmas/. CHRISTMAS WITH THE WEST END CHAMBER CHOIR The local choral ensemble performs opera choruses by Verdi, Bizet, and Mascagni, as well as hits by Queen and the Beatles. Dec 16, 7-8 pm, Alice MacKay Room (Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia). Free admission, info www.vpl.ca/. WINTER HARP Vancouver classical ensemble uses harps, flutes, medieval instruments, percussion, poetry, and song to evoke memories of Yuletides past. Dec 16-17, 7:30 pm, BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts (2055 Purcell Way). Tix $37/34, info www.capilanou.ca/ blueshorefinancialcentre/.

THE NORTH POLE KITCHEN Lucia Frangione is one of Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite and most charismatic actorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s making a smashing Mrs. Claus at the holiday family musical that runs at Presentation House Theatre until December 20. Mrs. Clausâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen finds her baking up a storm on the North Shore stage. Written by the crack creative comedy team of Bill Allman, Alan Marriott, and Kevin Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, it tells the story of a workaholic CEO who tries to turn the old ladyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to literally cook up Christmas spirit into big-time profits. Picture mischievous elves, a 10-piece North Pole Orchestra led by music director Matt Grinke, and cookies galore.

IMPROV AGAINST HUMANITY The Fictionals present a holiday-themed edition of the comedy show inspired by culthit card game Cards Against Humanity. Dec 16, 8-10 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $12/10, info www.thefictionals.com/.

2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS GOH BALLETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE NUTCRACKER Goh Ballet presents the classic Christmas ballet about a young girl and a gift that comes to life. Dec 17-22, 7:30-9:30 pm, The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer). Tix $35-100, info www.gohnutcracker.com/.

Church (1022 Nelson). The concert will also run Dec 16 at South Delta Baptist Church, Dec 17 at Bell Performing Arts Centre, Dec 18 at Centennial Theatre, Dec 19 at Kay Meek Theatre, and Dec 20 at Michael J. Fox Theatre. Tix $43/37/35, info 604-8763434, www.vancouversymphony.ca/. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE THE NUTCRACKER An adults-only tribute to the spooky holiday magic of Tim Burton features circus, burlesque, and live music. Dec 11-12, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Info www.riotheatre.ca/. CELEBRATE! A GOOD NOISE CHRISTMAS Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir presents gospel Christmas favourites and popular seasonal works. Dec 11-13, Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard). Tix $25, info www.brownpapertickets.com/. AN EVENING OF LESSONS & CAROLS Shaughnessy Heights United Church Choir, conducted by Ramona Luengen, will be joined by guest violinist Andrea Siradze and organist Roy Campbell. Dec 11, 7:30 pm, Shaughnessy Heights United Church (1550 W. 33rd). Tix $20, info www.shuc.ca/. WEST COAST SYMPHONY CHRISTMAS CONCERT The West Coast Symphony presents a family-friendly holiday concert of music by Anderson, Prokofiev, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams, and Coulthard. Dec 11, 8-10 pm, Canadian Memorial United Church (W. 15th and Burrard). Admission by donation, info www.westcoastsymphony.ca/. HANDELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MESSIAH The Vancouver Bach Choir presents the epic holiday masterwork. Soloists include soprano Simone Osborne, mezzo-soprano Susan Platts, tenor Andrew Haji, and baritone Daniel Okulitch. Dec 12, 8 pm, Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe). Tix $29-65, info www.vancouverbachchoir.com/. WINTER CELEBRATION Join a community string orchestra for an afternoon of old favourites, Christmas carols, and a new work by local violinist and composer Cam Wilson. Dec 13, 2-3:30 pm, Lynn Valley Community Room (1277 Lynn Valley Rd., North Vancouver). Tix $15/1/kids under 12 free, info www.nschamberorchestra.org/. CHANTEZ NOĂ&#x2039;L The Ryerson United Church Choir presents a holiday concert of music by Bach, Handel, Chilcott, Britten, Palestrina, and Scheidt. Dec 13, 2:30 pm, Ryerson United Church (2195 W. 45th). Tix $20/students and kids free, info www.facebook.com/ events/148678498819877/.

CHRISTMAS WITH CHOR LEONI Chor Leoni performs favourite carols, Renaissance motets, sing-alongs, Bieblâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ave Maria, and a new carol by Terre Roche. Dec 18, 4:30 pm, 8 pm, St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson). The concert also runs Dec 19, 2 pm, at the West Vancouver United Church. Tix $10-40, info www.chorleoni.org/concerts-events/events/christmas-chor-leoni/.

Paula Kremer, er, Artistic Director D

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A DYLAN THOMAS CHRISTMAS The Vancouver Chamber Choir presents a concert of English, German, and other holiday songs as well as a performance of Dylan Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas in Wales. Dec 18, 8 pm, Shaughnessy Heights United Church (1550 W. 33rd). Tix $27.50-32, info www.vancouverchamberchoir.com/. A CHRISTMAS REPRISE XIII The Vancouver Cantata Singers present a concert of traditional carols and a few newer holiday compositions. Dec 19, 2 pm, Holy Rosary Cathedral (646 Richards (at Dunsmuir)). Tix $30/20/10, info www. vancouvercantatasingers.com/. A VERY SINFONIA FAMILY CHRISTMAS The Lions Gate Sinfonia performs seasonal, sacred, and secular selection, ranging from Handelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Messiah to family-friendly hits. Dec 19, 7:30 pm, Centennial Theatre (2300 Lonsdale Ave., North Van). Tix $12-39, info www.lionsgatesinfonia.com/. A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS The Vancouver Chamber Choir presents a concert performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Includes English, German, and other holiday songs. Dec 19, 8 pm, Shaughnessy Heights United Church (1550 W. 33rd). Tix $10-32, info www.vancouver chamberchoir.com/. FESTIVE CANTATAS: PRAETORIUS CHRISTMAS VESPERS Early Music Vancouver, in partnership with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Early Music Guild of Seattle and Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Early Music Society of the Islands, presents a concert of Michael Praetoriusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. Dec 20, 3 pm, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC). Tix $17.50-66, info www.earlymusic.bc.ca/. THE SINGING HEART The Phoenix Chamber Choir presents a Christmas concert featuring new music and old favourites. Dec 20, 7:30 pm, Ryerson United Church (2195 W. 45th). Tix free to $25, info www.phoenixchoir.ca/.

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THE NUTCRACKER Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet in the classic holiday ballet about a young girl and her magical Christmas gift. Includes live music by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Dec 29-31, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix $35-110, info www.balletbc. com/performance/the-nutcracker/.

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46 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

MUSIC

What do Torres and Kendrick Lamar have in common? They released two of 2015’s most awesome records, and they also mastered the art of looking totally casual in awkwardly unnatural poses.

Our favourite music of 2015

ALGIERS Algiers

Written by three Atlanta-raised southerners (two white, one black) who’ve relocated to New York City, Algiers serves up a thrilling mashup of styles that should be at odds with each other, the songs mixing These are the LPs that helped the Georgia Straight’s cold-slab postpunk with fever-sweat gospel and intrepid critics get through the past 12 months field-holler soul. Add lyrics MIKE USINGER that challenge everything from faith in God to the whitewashing of African-American culture, and This past summer, after riding my bike home you’ve got the year’s most revolutionary sermon. all liquored up from the Keefer Bar, I left my battered but beloved 2003 iPod on a back-yard MOON DUO Shadow of the Sun While Shadow of table, where it was destroyed by an overnight the Sun has trace elements of grimy garage rock, rainfall. A nice lady named Kate Ross eased the CBGB-brand new wave, and Berlin techno, Moon trauma by selling me her 160GB iPod Classic on Duo’s main obsession is post-Nuggets psychedelia. Craigslist. The following records ended up on a Dark, driving, and deliciously hypnotic, the Portland-based duo’s third full-length will make you playlist titled Kate Ross Totally Rocks. appreciate both your vintage lava lamp and that THE SOFT MOON Deeper Living up to its title, mountainous stack of Orange Sunshine in the the third full-length from the Soft Moon finds medicine cabinet. solo artist Luis Vasquez exploring his boiling emotions in an attempt to make sense of the NATALIE PRASS Natalie Prass Former Jenny world. Cancer-black synths and sheet-metal Lewis sidewoman Natalie Prass shows she’s percussion form the backdrop for a therapy ses- more than ready for her close-up with a hypersion that, instead of easy answers, ends with the accomplished debut marked by swirling springfittingly bleak, “I don’t know who I am/What is time-in-Paris horns and regal concert-hall strings. Part oddball art-house jazz weirdo and this place?” part chamber-pop-fixated angel, the 29-yearSUFJAN STEVENS Carrie & Lowell The often- old late bloomer is no longer anyone’s musical enigmatic Sufjan Stevens pulls back the curtain on gun for hire. his private life with songs inspired by the death of his mostly absent birth mother, who was plagued DEAFHEAVEN New Bermuda From the chugging by mental-health and addiction problems. Har- black-metal-glazed tsunami “Brought to the Water” rowing has never sounded more beautiful than to the meditative outro, “Gifts for the Earth”, Deafwhen Indie America’s most accomplished song- heaven shows that extreme music can be gorgeous, writer sings, “Fuck me, I’m falling apart” in “No even as frontman George Clarke howls like a man swimming in broken glass. When the apocalypse Shade in the Shadow of the Cross”. finally comes, the towering New Bermuda will be a COURTNEY BARNETT Sometimes I Sit and great sonic backdrop for the carnage. Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit Whip-smart Aussie Courtney Barnett cements her title as alt- JOHN LUCAS pop’s cleverest lyricist, packing every song on I’m not allowed to list the records that alSometimes I Sit with a mini novel’s worth of demost but didn’t quite make my list. So tail. Marvel at “Elevator Operator”, on which stressed-out 21-year-old Oliver Paul stands on a I won’t. These are the ones that did. rooftop telling a skeletal woman with a snakeskin bag, “I’m not suicidal, just idling insignificantly/ A$AP ROCKY At.Long.Last.A$AP Only a rapper with nothing left to prove would release a track I come up here for perception and clarity.” like “L$D” as a single. It’s the antithesis of a club TORRES Sprinter Depression, an existential banger; most of the lyrics are delivered in a syrupspiritual crisis, and an almost crippling fear of hazed croon, and it takes almost two full minutes death all weighed heavily on Torres (aka Mac- for the beat to kick in. It’s kind of amazing, and kenzie Scott) while she was crafting her emo- the LP that spawned it is just as confoundingly tionally devastating sophomore outing. Revel in impressive. the pain when, as guitar and drums come crashing down around her on “New Skin”, she stands CHEATAHS Mythologies A Canadian, an Amerbrave and defiant with “But if you do not know ican, a Brit, and a German walk into a recording studio…and walk out with an album that, against the darkness/You’re the one I fear the most.” all odds, takes shoegazing rock in new and weird GIRLPOOL Before the World Was Big EDM and directions. No joke. And I’m sure all 15 people hip-hop continued to rule the world in 2015, and who showed up when Cheatahs played the Media that’s maybe one of the reasons Girlpool’s gold- Club last month will agree with me. soundz reboot of classic indie rock sounded so fresh. Nobody—and that includes Pavement, not FATHER JOHN MISTY I Love You, Honeybear to mention Liz Phair and Cat Power—makes rec- Josh Tillman is as difficult to interview as his singing voice is easy to love. On his latest collecords like this anymore. tion of songs, he explores both the monumenDR. DRE Compton Some things are worth the tally fucked-up state of the world and his own wait, with Dr. Dre’s 15-years-in-the-making newfound dedication to marital fidelity. That he Compton being a perfect example. A love letter sounds equally uneasy about both of those things to the still-violent birthplace of N.W.A., Andre makes for a fascinating peek into his psyche. Young’s official follow-up to 2001 tackles topics ranging from race-based police brutality to mor- HEALTH Death Magic How much grinding intality to the challenges of being young and black dustrial noise and pummelling rhythm can you in America, and the result is a record that’s as add to something and still end up with a pop record? Health seems to be on a mission to find out. sprawling as it is powerful.

TOBIAS JESSO JR. Goon Now that he has a

writing credit on Adele’s gazillion-selling 25— which puts him in the rarefied company of Max Martin and Bruno Mars—we probably won’t be seeing much of local boy Jesso around these parts anymore. At least we have this assured collection of impeccably wrought ’70s-throwback piano ballads to console us.

MEW + - At this point, it’s practically a foregone conclusion that whenever Mew puts out a new record, it’s going to end up on my top-10 list. It doesn’t hurt that this is the best one the Danish prog-poppers have released in a decade, with the experimental side taking a back seat to solid riffs and indelible hooks. PURITY RING Another Eternity If it’s true that Corin Roddick and Megan James’s wakingdream electro-trap sound seems more commercial than it did on Purity Ring’s 2012 debut album, Shrines, it’s also true that pop music has had three years to catch up now. RAURY All We Need Who’s Raury? Just a 19-year-

old with his eyes wide-open to the problems of the world, and his ears open to folk, gospel, rock, R&B, and Dirty South hip-hop. It doesn’t always add up, but when it does it’s undeniably powerful.

SUN KIL MOON Universal Themes

Mark Kozelek continues down the same rabbit hole he leapt into with last year’s jaw-dropping Benji. Whether he’s bemoaning the plants that died while he was on tour (“Garden of Lavender”), sharing anecdotes about that time he played himself in a Paolo Sorrentino movie (“Birds of Flims”), or reminding whiny hipsters that some people have real problems (the scathing “Cry Me a River Williamsburg Sleeve Tattoo Blues”), Kozelek is by turns heartbreaking, horrifying, and hilarious.

TAME IMPALA Currents Improbable as it sounds,

Kevin Parker has left guitar-driven psychedelic rock behind to embrace synthesizer-washed pop and discotheque beats, and yet the best parts of Currents will have you tripping balls as hard as anything Tame Impala has ever done.

VIVIAN PENCZ

In a way, 2015’s soundscape was all about

2 contradictions. There was no obvious, domineering trend. It was a year of comebacks and comedowns, progression and regression, confrontation via art and distraction through entertainment. Surfacing out of those competing extremes, the following records were unmissable.

KENDRICK LAMAR To Pimp a Butterfly Believe

the hype—this was Kendrick Lamar’s year. Opening with a sample of soul classic “Every Nigger Is a Star” by Boris Gardiner, the Compton-bred rapper’s sophomore album delivers chills as it overflows with wholehearted black pride and silver-tongued, righteous rage. Politically scorching, infectiously danceable, tearfully honest, and gleefully eclectic all at once, To Pimp a Butterfly is an important odyssey of revolt.

NEW ORDER Music Complete New Order bears the bejewelled crown of one of the greatest, most influential bands in music history, plus the band that has made me weep more than any other in my iTunes library. And despite the departure of founding member Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner and company’s 10th record sounds surprisingly joyful, quintessential, and fresh—a luminous addition to their Midas-touched career. see page 49

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 47

MIXED NUTS Arts Umbrella Dance Company presents a modern, energetic retelling of classic holiday ballet The Nutcracker. Dec 18, 7 pm; Dec 19, 2 pm; Dec 19, 7 pm, Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton). Tix $15, info www.artsumbrella. com/events/mixed-nuts/.

TOY SHOP Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts presents a festive afternoon of dance. Dec 12, 4 pm, Centennial Theatre (2300 Lonsdale Ave., North Van). Tix $5-25, info www.annawyman.com/.

THEATRE 2OPENINGS

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Dec 18-19, 8 pm, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC). Tix $26.75-66, info 604876-3434, www.vancouversymphony.ca/.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES A POSE: DRAG QUEENS VS ALIENS A 40-person cast performs a musical mashup featuring songs from Heathers, Hamilton, and Fun Home. Dec 9-12, 8-10:30 pm, Performance Works (1218 Cartwright, Granville Island). Tix $25/20/15, info www.thebroadway chorus.com/.

2THIS WEEK

THE WIZARD OF OZ Gateway Theatre presents a reinterpretation of the classic 1939 film about a young girl who travels to a magical land and must find her way back home. Dec 10–Jan 3, 2016, 8-11 pm, Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Rd., Richmond). Tix $48/20, info www.gateway theatre.com/wizard/.

SING CITY CHOIR Vocal ensemble performs upbeat favourites as part of the first annual Winter Wonderland festival. Dec 11, 7:30-8 pm, PNE Forum (2901 E. Hastings). Info www.singcity.ca/.

CHELSEA HOTEL: THE SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN Six performers play 17 different instruments in a rollicking tribute to Canadian author, poet, and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. Dec 15–Jan 9, 2016, Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova). Tix from $23, info www.firehallartscentre.ca/.

2ONGOING PETER AND THE STARCATCHER The Arts Club Theatre Company presents director Rick Elice’s adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s Peter Pan prequel. Music by Wayne Barker. To Dec 27, Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre (162 W.1st). Tix from $29, info 604687-1644, www.artsclub.com/. THE DAISY THEATRE Renowned puppeteer provocateur Ronnie Burkett and his resident company of over 40 marionettes perform unique shows. To Dec 20, The Cultch (1895 Venables). Tix from $20, info www.thecultch.com/. MATCH GIRL Port Moody’s Rebel Haunt Theatre partners with Stone’s Throw Productions to present a new play by Sarah Dixon. Based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen. To Dec 18, 7:25-7:45 pm, Pacific Theatre (1440 W. 12th). Info www.pacifictheatre.org/. CHELSEA HOTEL, THE SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN Creator-director Tracey Power’s production sees six musicians play 17 instruments in a tribute to the songs of Leonard Cohen. To Dec 13, Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St., New Westminster). Tix $30-40, info www.ticketsnw.ca/.

DANCE 2JUST ANNOUNCED SAUDADE Interdisciplinary performance inspired by the postwar Berlin in Wim Wenders’s Wings of Desire and the futuristic dystopia of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. Dec 17-19, 8-9 pm, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W. Hastings). Tix $25/10, info www.sfuwoodwards.ca/.

DARK SISTERS The Vancouver Opera presents the Canadian premiere of Nico Muhly’s provocative opera. Libretto by Stephen Karam. To Dec 12, Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton). Tix from $35, info 604-683-0222, www.vancouveropera.ca/.

MUSIC FOR THE WINTER SOLSTICE Music on Main celebrates the winter season with the second annual concert inspired by the solstice. Includes performances by Caroline Shaw, Steve Maddock, Rachel Iwaasa, and COULOIR. Dec 11, 8 pm, Heritage Hall (3102 Main). Tix $49/15, info www.musiconmain.ca/. ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS Vivaldi Chamber Choir presents a Christmas concert following the stories of Mary and her messengers. Dec 12, 8-9:30 pm, St. Mark’s Church (1805 Larch). Tix $22/18, info www. vivaldichoir.org/.

on the web!

For up-to-the-minute, searchable Arts listings on your phone, visit

www.straight.com

LISE FLEMING Music in the Morning presents Cuban musicians Edmar Castañeda and Dafnis Prieto. Dec 16-18, 10:30-11:30 am, Vancouver Academy of Music (1270 Chestnut). Tix $35/33/16, info www.music inthemorning.org/. EDMAR CASTANEDA AND DAFNIS PRIETO Music in the Morning presents music by Edmar Castaneda and Dafnis Prieto. Dec 16-18, 10:30-11:30 am, Vancouver Academy of Music (1270 Chestnut). Tix $35/33/16, info www.music inthemorning.org/.

COMEDY 2JUST ANNOUNCED NEW YEAR’S EVE AT YEAR IN REVIEW Vancouver TheatreSports League improvisers take you on a comedic journey back through the headlines of 2015. Dec 26-31, The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau, Granville Island). Tix $10-22, info www.vtsl. com/show/year-in-review/. SNOWED IN COMEDY TOUR Standupcomedy tour features performances by Dan Quinn, Craig Campbell, Paul Myrehaug, and Pete Zedlacher. Feb 6, 8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $35, info www.snowedincomedytour.com/.

48 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

2THIS WEEK

ASCENSION 4 Student-led production involving collaboration between students from music, dance, theatre, and film. Dec 11-13, 8 pm, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W. Hastings). Tix $15/5, info www. sfu.ca/sca/events/.

LUCITERRA DANCE COMPANY Annual winter student showcase features choreography by both Luciterra and the students themselves. Dec 13, 7 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $20/17, info www.luciterradance.com/.

< < < MUSIC < < 2JUST ANNOUNCED < VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS Violinist < Vadim Gluzman leads the VSO in a < performance of Mozart’s Divertimento in D Major and Eine kleine Nachtmusik, < Kancheli’s Eine kleine Daneliade, and

ET CETERA KOOZA Cirque du Soleil presents writerdirector David Shiner’s production that uses acrobatics and clowning to tell the story of a loner in search of his place in the world. To Dec 27, Concord Pacific Place (88 Pacific). Tix from $45 at www.cirquedusoleil. com/, info www.cirquedusoleil.com/.

2THIS WEEK

ar ts/ timeout THEATRE DANCE MUSIC COMEDY LITERARY EVENTS ET CETERA GALLERIES MUSEUMS OUT OF TOWN

straight choices

LOVE MUSICALLY Off Key Improv presents a musical tribute to the holiday movie Love Actually. Dec 16-20, Studio 1398 (1398 Cartwright, Granville Island). Tix $18, info www.offkeyimprov.com/.

OVER THE RAINBOW The Gateway Theatre’s new production of The Wizard of Oz comes with a promising pedigree: it’s the same team that brought you Crazy for You: The New Gershwin Musical, a show that received raves. This time out, they’re bringing to life the Munchkins, Dorothy, and even a live Toto in a family show that makes for a fun holiday outing. There’ll be projections, puppetry, dance, and the famous music performed here by a 10-piece orchestra. Just follow the Yellow Brick Road out to Richmond for the show’s run from Thursday (December 10) till January 3. JFL NORTHWEST The inaugural comedy festival presents performances by headlining talent Trevor Noah, Wanda Sykes, Lewis Black, Miranda Sings, Jeremy Hotz, Janeane Garofalo, Ron Funches, Todd Barry, Kyle Kinane, Hasan Minhaj, Nick Thune, Wes Barker: Stunt Magician, This Is That Live, Bert Kreischer, Hari Kondabolu, and the Nasty Show With Bobby Slayton, Big Jay Oakerson, and Kurt Metzger. Feb 18-27, various Vancouver venues. Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, at www.jflnorthwest.com/. STEVE MARTIN AND MARTIN SHORT Comedy legends unite for An Evening You Will Forget. Jul 22, 8 pm, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix on sale Dec 11, noon, from $85 to $175 (plus service charge and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.

2ONGOING LAFFLINES COMEDY CLUB 530 Columbia St., New Westminster, 604525-2262, www.lafflines.com/. 2JOHN BEUHLER Dec 11 2GLENN WOOL, KYLE JONES, RON VAUDRY Dec 31 THE COMEDY MIX 1015 Burrard, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, 604-684-5050, www. thecomedymix.com/. Comedy club with pro-am night Tue at 8:30 pm, showcase Wed at 8:30 pm, and featured headliners Thu at 8:30 pm and Fri-Sat at 8 & 10:30 pm. Cover $8 Tue, $10 Wed, $15 Thu, $18 Fri, $20 Sat. 2DAN QUINN Dec 10-12 2ILIZA SCHLESINGER Jan 14-16 2BRYAN CALLEN Jan 21-23 2DEBRA DIGIOVANNI Jan 28-30 YUK YUK’S COMEDY CLUB 2837 Cambie, 604-696-9857, www.yukyuks.com/. Comedy club with amateur night Wed at 8 pm, talent showcase Thu at 8 pm, headliners Fri-Sat at 7 pm and 9:30 pm. Cover $7 Wed, $10 Thu, $20 Fri-Sat. VANCOUVER THEATRESPORTS LEAGUE Some of the world’s most daring and innovative improv. Christmas Queen 2 (every Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat, 7:30 pm); Off Leash (every Wed and Thu, 9:15 pm); Rookie Night (every Sun, 7:30 pm); TheatreSports (every Fri and Sat, 9:30 pm). Dec 9-16, The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau, Granville Island). Tix $8-22, info www.vtsl.com/.

2THIS WEEK DAN QUINN Vancouver-based standup comedian performs a solo show. Dec 10-12, The Comedy MIX (1015 Burrard, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa). Tix $20/18/15, info www.thecomedymix.com/. BIERLAUGHS AT BIERCRAFT II Comedy by headliner Stefan MacNeil, Fatima Dhowre, Mark Nesbitt, and Katie Burrell. Dec 10, 8 pm, Biercraft Westbrook at UBC (3340 Shrum Lane, UBC). Free

admission, info www.facebook.com/ events/916662421742988/.

FRESH FACES COMEDY SLAM WITH DYLAN RHYMER New comedy talent competes for cash and prizes. Dec 10, 17, 8-10 pm, Lafflines Comedy Club (530 Columbia Street). Tix $10/5, info www.laff lines.com/. THE LADY SHOW—A DECEMBER COMEDY THING Monologues and sketch/standup comedy by Erica Sigurdson, Fatima Dhowre, Katie-Ellen Humphries, Morgan Brayton, Robyn Daye Edwards, and Diana Bang. Dec 11, 8 pm, Little Mountain Gallery (195 E. 26th). Tix $10 at the door, cash only, info www.theladyshow.com/. ALICIA TOBIN’S COME DRAW WITH ME Alicia Tobin critiques audience members’ five-minute drawings and hosts comedy by Kevin Banner, Stacey McLaughlin, and Emmett Hall. Dec 11, 8-10 pm, Hot Art Wet City Gallery (2206 Main). Tix $10/6, info www.hotartwetcity.com/ comedraw-dec2015/. JOHN BEUHLER Canadian standup comedian performs with guest Carter Hortie. Dec 11, 9:30-11 pm, Lafflines Comedy Club (530 Columbia Street). Tix $20/18, info www.lafflines.com/.

LITERARY EVENTS 2THIS WEEK READ ME A STORY EXHIBITION Explore a multicultural collection of folktales and fairy tales from around the world, interact with gigantic murals illustrating timeless folktales, and reserve your classroom or youth group for free B.C. curriculum-relevant workshops. To Dec 16, Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (183 Roundhouse Mews). Free admission, info www.readmeastory.ca/. GRAHAM HANCOCK: MAGICIANS OF THE GODS Graham Hancock launches his book Magicians of the Gods. Dec 10, 7-9 pm, West Point Grey United Church (4595 W. 8th). Free admission, info www.banyen. com/events/hancock/. SPOKEN INK Poets Bren Simmers and Raoul Fernandes highlight Spoken INK’s December event. Dec 10, 8 pm, Wings Tap & Grill (6879 Kingsway, Burnaby). Free admission, info www.burnabywritersnews. blogspot.com/. WORD WHIPS WRITING SERIES Spend 10 to 15 minutes writing to each prompt and see what you can whip up. Dec 15, 6:30-8:30 pm, Vancouver Public Library Britannia Branch (1661 Napier). Free admission, info www.vpl.ca/.

GALLERIES VANCOUVER ART GALLERY 750 Hornby, 604-662-4719, www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/. 2NEXT: A SERIES OF ARTIST PROJECTS FROM THE PACIFIC RIM (Vancouverbased artist Christos Dikeakos considers the economic and cultural values involved in transactions of Northwest Coast art) to Jan 31 2THE GUND COLLECTION: CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL ART FROM THE NORTHWEST COAST (exhibition features a group of historical and contemporary First Nations artwork from the Northwest Coast, drawn from the Collection of George Gund III) to Jan 31 2THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF THE NEW VANCOUVER ART GALLERY (explore the conceptual design for the new Vancouver Art Gallery, created by Herzog & de Meuron) to Jan 24 2EMBRACING CANADA: LANDSCAPES FROM KRIEGHOFF TO THE GROUP OF SEVEN (exhibition surveys the history of artistic engagement with the Canadian landscape from c. 1840 to 1940, a period that produced many Canadian artists) to Jan 24

MUSEUMS MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY 6393 NW Marine Dr., UBC, 604-822-5087, www. moa.ubc.ca/. 2CESNA EM, THE CITY BEFORE THE CITY (one of three unified exhibitions that connect Vancouverites with the ancient village and burial site upon which Vancouver was built. Highlights include soundscapes, original videography, and family-friendly interactivity) to Dec 30 2(IN)VISIBLE: THE SPIRITUAL WORLD OF TAIWAN THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ART (works by seven contemporary Taiwanese artists who explore the coexistence of modernity and tradition while showcasing the significance of the spiritual world of Taiwan) to Apr 3 MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER 1100 Chestnut, 604-736-4431, www.museumofvancouver. ca/. 2CESNA EM, THE CITY BEFORE THE CITY (one of three unified exhibitions that connect Vancouverites with the ancient village and burial site upon which Vancouver was built. Highlights include soundscapes, original videography, and family-friendly interactivity) to Dec 30

OUT OF TOWN 2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS AMY SCHUMER American superstar comic and actor, star of TV’s Inside Amy Schumer, performs a New Year’s Eve comedy show. Dec 31, 8 pm, Key Arena (305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA). Tix US$146/75.50/55.50/40.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/.

TIME OUT ARTS LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.

discs. Singer Amy Sacko is an indispensable part of her husband Bassekou Kouyaté’s ensemble, which includes two of their sons. Sam Lee’s band is half female, with violinist Flora Curzon its instrumental standout. Women sing most of Jayme Stone’s archival unearthings, as well as contributing fiddle, guitar, accordion, and percussion. Do I get a pass if I promise to dig deeper next year?

Our favourite music

from page 47

WOLF ALICE My Love Is Cool There

is something heartbreakingly endearing about Wolf Alice, the band of neo-grunge champions whose ability to craft exquisitely catchy melodies is perfectly matched to their tenacious emotional core. The Londoners’ pristinely produced songs stick in your head like English treacle, while packing just the right amount of piercing, distortion-heavy bite.

KRIS DAVIS INFRASOUND Save

Your Breath Your mileage may vary depending on how you feel about the clarinet: there are four of them here, collaborating with a powerful rhythm section and New York– based Canadian pianist Kris Davis on her intricate but vital scores. Think hot-velvet textures shot through with jagged steel.

MARCHING CHURCH This World

Is Not Enough In Iceage frontman Elias Bender Rønnenfelt’s side project Marching Church, the Danish punk has fully embraced his remarkably Nick Cave–ish charisma and storytelling flair. Blending jazz, soul, freak-folk, and postpunk influences, Marching Church’s debut is wild yet tender and completely enthralling. Somewhere between sobbing and lustful moaning, Rønnenfelt’s voice bleeds gut-wrenching pain over a tapestry of experimental instrumentation. BRAIDS Deep in the Iris On Calgary-bred indie band Braids’ third record, frontwoman Raphaelle Standell-Preston is bravely speaking out. With her soft but strong voice, she illuminates the shadows of sexual abuse, incest, and systemic misogyny, before stating with dark humour, “I’m not a man-hater, I enjoy them like cake.” All of this while bubbling, Nigel Godrich–esque beats, sprinkled with piano and guitar glitter, provide further radiance. THE GARDEN Haha

The Garden’s wonderfully twisted sound is difficult to pin down, like an ever-mutating, indeterminate life form. Wriggling strains of punk, no-wave, electroclash, and avantgarde pop intermingle on the Orange County–based twin brothers’ sophomore release. Equal parts abrasive and strangely charming, Haha is an absorbing trip.

Guess which member of London-based neo-grunge outfit Wolf Alice was unceremoniously booted out of the botanical garden for picking the flowers. GRIMES Art Angels Grimes’s fourth

record may not hold a candle to the genre-defying tunesmith’s 2012 stroke of genius Visions, but Art Angels is still a brain-scrambling gem of prismatic delight. Looking fondly towards but keeping resolute distance from the world of radio-friendly pop, Grimes is more palatable here but no less darkly magical and sonically inventive. STEVENS Carrie & Lowell Inspired by the death of his mother, Sufjan Stevens’s seventh album weaves lyrical themes of grief, memory, self-destruction, and faith as masterfully as the fretwork on his acoustic guitar, which tumbles gently throughout like a babbling brook. The varied imagery of fabled gold mines, bloody blades, and “sea lion caves in the dark” is beautifully mysterious and moving.

SUFJAN

TORRES Sprinter

While garnering comparisons to the likes of PJ Harvey and St. Vincent, Torres—aka Mackenzie Scott—shows wisdom far beyond her years on her sophomore release, Sprinter. Fusing elements of anthemic

DAVE DOUGLAS High Risk Finally,

some electronically augmented jazz that’s powerful enough to make one forget about Weather Report. (For a while, anyway.) Trumpet veteran Dave Douglas and his younger allies build their tunes from the beats up, with producer Zachary “Shigeto” BLUR The Magic Whip After 12 Saginaw standing out for his unusualyears apart, Blur fulfilled the dreams ly organic-sounding electronics. of Britpop fans the world over by reuniting for its eighth record, a come- HOLLY HERNDON Platform There’s back that is as surprising in its subtlety some danger of Holly Herndon’s as in its spontaneity. Written and re- remarkable disc slipping through corded over a period of just five days the cracks: it’s too tuneful for serin Hong Kong back in 2013, The Magic ious music, too abstract for EDM Whip glows brightly with a rejuvenat- or electro-pop, and too gentle for ed, tight-knit energy and a seemingly rock. But it’s definitely the work of an artist worth keeping an eye on— endless flow of original ideas. and a fantastic example of the kind ALEXANDER VARTY of musical hybridity we can expect to see more of as stylistic barriers It’s 2015, so where’s the gender crumble along with music-industry parity? I’m mildly ashamed infrastructure. that only two of this year’s favourites are directly attributable JOHN KORSRUD’S HARD RUBto female artists, although women BER ORCHESTRA Crush There are contribute heavily to most of the actually two ensembles here—John rest. Local cellist Peggy Lee is a full Korsrud’s hard-driving avant-jazz big member of cooperative trio Wax- band and a somewhat more meditawing and features prominently on tive chamber orchestra—but both feaTony Wilson’s and John Korsrud’s ture some of the best players in our fair pop-rock with folk, the Brooklynbased singer-guitarist wields a tigress howl that’s combined with stirring melodies, and sharply poetic, confessional songwriting.

city along with nicely layered compositions from their singular leader. BASSEKOU KOUYATÉ & NGONI BA

Ba Power High-energy African funk from a family band that builds big, sprawling, rock-inflected structures out of complex rhythms and simple melodic cells. If you haven’t received the memo that Mali is home to one of the world’s great musical cultures, here’s a great and accessible way to get clued in. SAM LEE & FRIENDS The Fade in Time How do you revive a fading tradition? Assemble a few genrejumping friends and then dig deep into some roots. Broadside ballads and Travellers’ songs from all over the U.K. rarely sound as elegant, or as alive, as they do in the hands of Vancouver Folk Music Festival standout Sam Lee and his exceptional band. JAYME STONE Jayme Stone’s Lomax

Project Canadian banjo wizard Jayme Stone’s initial dip into the world’s greatest ethnomusicological archive has yielded wildly inventive reworkings of trad gems from Georgia’s Sea Islands, the Appalachian Mountains, and elsewhere. West Virginia roots curator Tim O’Brien, gutsy singer Margaret Glaspy, and deft jazz guitarist Julian Lage are just a few of the high-powered guests on what, surprisingly, sounds more like a fabulous band than an all-star jamboree.

DAVID TORN only sky It’s kind of a

two-for-one deal: you get loop master David Torn’s beguilingly dreamy soundscapes, but you also get incandescent rock guitar from the session stalwart who’s animated the best of David Bowie and k. d. lang’s recent work. There are also entire universes in each track.

WAXWING a bowl of sixty taxider-

mists Guitarist Tony Wilson, cellist Peggy Lee, and multi-instrumentalist Jon Bentley play in local trio Waxwing, and Bentley’s postsession studio see page 51

STRAIGHT WRAPPED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

FOR THE MUSIC LOVER VINYL RECORD STORAGE AND RECORD CLEANER The Vinyl Record Storage Company’s beautiful but functional designs aim to bridge the gap between record collectors and home decorators. The Vancouver company makes vinyl record display furniture and other accessories for vinyl enthusiasts including a record cleaning fluid dubbed ‘Black Label’ by local collectors. Only $14.99/ 500 mL. Available online www.vinylrecordstorage.co and at Zulu Records, 1972 W 4th Avenue

A UKULELE ALBUM BY RUBY & SMITH A work of elegant simplicity, the Straight’s Mike Usinger called it “a jazz-dusted record made for hanging out on a ramshackle porch in Louisiana at sundown”. She’s Daphne Roubini with the Billie Holiday voice, all breath and wistfulness; he’s virtuosic uke-playing Andrew Smith. Be whisked away, mint julep in hand. Comes with lyrics, ukulele chords, and tablature.

LUKES VANCOUVER Music lovers, step up your bath game. Pair (MALIN+GOETZ) rum body wash with TÄNDA Modern’s coconut and lime cedar wick candle while enjoying the blissfully electronic sounds of Flume. 49 West Hastings Street lukesgeneralstore.ca

Available at rubyandsmith.com and at Highlife Records, 1317 Commercial Dr

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 49

50 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

that includes primo husband-andfrom page 49 wife duo the Mastersons, songwriting great Steve Earle hits the mark manipulations make for a beautifully with 11 rootsy tracks that showcase layered tribute to his late mentor Ross his bluesy side like never before. Taggart. It sounds like nothing TagDAVE ALVIN AND PHIL ALVIN gart would do, but he’d dig it. Lost Time For the second year in a TONY WILSON 6TET A Day’s Life row the brothers Alvin make my top The musical accompaniment to Tony 10. Lost Time—which the ex-Blasters Wilson’s 2012 novella of the same featured during a scorching show name, this recasts the guitarist’s ex- at the since-shuttered Electric Owl periences in Vancouver’s Downtown last June—is a fitting follow-up to Eastside in terms both gritty and radi- last year’s Grammy-winning Big Bill ant. There are few more soulful jazz Broonzy tribute. composers than this local treasure. THE DARKNESS Last of Our Kind STEVE NEWTON The British quartet blends the finest elements of glam and melodic hard The more I see pictures of head- rock for an exhilarating blast of Les phone-wearing DJs alone on- Paul–driven, ’70s-style boogie. stage, dickin’ around with laptops and turntables, the more I think: fuck off. JACO PASTORIUS JACO: Original Soundtrack I’m not the biggest jazz BOTTLE ROCKETS South Broadway freak around, but there’s someAthletic Club One of the world’s most thing about Jaco Pastorius’s bass underrated bands comes up with a guitar that’s just bloody magical. killer album of catchy guitar rock that The soundtrack from the new docurivals its stellar ’94 release, The Brook- mentary JACO includes gems from lyn Side. Singer and main songwriter his solo career and his time with Brian Henneman is an overlooked Weather Report, guest appearances genius on par with Tom Petty, if you with the likes of Ian Hunter and Joni ask me. And even if you don’t. Mitchell, and a smashing cover of his “Continuum” by Mexican guitar duo DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS It’s Great to Rodrigo y Gabriela. Be Alive! After last year’s remarkable English Oceans I was totally psyched GRAVEYARD Innocence and Decafor another batch of DBT originals, dence With a name like Graveyard, but this live set—recorded over three you might expect brutal, grinding nights at the historic Fillmore in San death metal, but this Swedish quarFrancisco—will more than do. It’s tet specializes in melodic guitar rock also available as a five-LP, three-CD with Hellacopters-style hooks aplenboxed set for anyone who’s wonder- ty and deep bluesy vibes à la Peter Green–era Fleetwood Mac. ing what I need for Christmas.

U.S. GIRLS Half Free Further con-

Our favourite music

JOE SATRIANI Shockwave Supernova

With help from the Aristocrats’ rhythm section of bassist Bryan Beller and drummer Marco Minnemann—as well as former Zappa sideman Mike Keneally on keys—the Bay Area guitar hero leads yet another startling excursion to the outer reaches of instrumental rock.

JOE BONAMASSA Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks American guitar great Bonamassa wowed a sold-out crowd at Colorado’s fabled Red Rocks amphitheatre, borrowing from the playbooks of blues legends Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, and adding a few of his own killer tunes, to boot.

STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES Ter- IRON MAIDEN The Book of Souls raplane Bolstered by a backing band If you only have one heavy-metal

torting her ever-evolving approach, Half Free finds U.S. Girls’ Meg Remy sanding away previously mastered glam-rock textures to reveal elements of bomb-dropping dub and pillow-soft ’80s R&B. Her vibratoheavy narratives channel a diverse range of characters, making this her most well-rounded release.

D’ANGELO AND THE VANGUARD

DEERHUNTER Fading Frontier Aside

from the spectacularly sleazy groove of “Snakeskin”, Fading Frontier finds Bradford Cox and company especially relaxed, with tranquillizer-dart haziness and a few airbrushed synth sounds bringing them ever closer to enlightenment.

TAMARYN Cranekiss

A gloomy shoegaze spirit hasn’t entirely vanished from Tamaryn’s sound, but a surge of swerved synths and peppy vocals puts Cranekiss closer to the Cocteau Twins circa Heaven or Las Vegas. That, or whatever you’d imagine Patrick Bateman pumps through his Walkman headphones during his morning crunch routine.

Black Messiah A full 15 years in the making, but arriving not a moment too late, R&B master D’Angelo’s Black Messiah was a godsend. The whirlwind of deeply bumped funk, interstellar balladry, and ’20s jazz motifs lets D’Angelo get passionate Courtney Barnett is evidently shocked and raw, whether discussing socithat we love her album so much. ety’s faults or a filthy night at home JOANNA NEWSOM Divers Though album creeping onto your 2015 top with his lover. Divers is as grand as you’d expect, it’s 10—and it looks like I do—then it refreshing that harpist extraordinshould be this sprawling, 92-minute ALABAMA SHAKES Sound & Color aire Joanna Newsom opted for a conepic by Britain’s reigning kings of Whether she’s howling for another’s cise, single LP this time around. The approval on “Gimme All Your Love” album is still plenty deep, whether galloping, triple-guitar raunch. or coolly clacking her tongue above offering Ozarks balladry or the title GREGORY ADAMS a mellow vibraphone on “Sound & track’s folky rumination on life, Color”, Brittany Howard’s golden- death, and everything in between. The “Hotline Bling” video tried throated performance on Alabama to teach us how to dad-dance Shakes’ sophomore record is brilliant ALEX HUDSON like Drake, and yet I chose to listen beyond belief. In 2015, I did most of my foto these instead. JESSICA PRATT On Your Own cused music listening while CINDY LEE Act of Tenderness A pro- Love Again This sophomore re- walking the dog. Here are the albums foundly private-sounding record from lease from California’s Jessica Pratt that were playing on my iPod as I took Vancouver’s Cindy Lee (aka Patrick offers plenty of psychedelic f lour- Sadie around the neighbourhood. In Flegel) that traffics in the strains of sad- ishes, from tape-manipulated mel- alphabetical order… dened ’60s pop, Velvet Underground odies to ethereally playful vocals. wooziness, and Glenn Branca–style The lo-fi recording’s grittiness COURTNEY BARNETT Sometimes guitar damage. All of this supports a likewise captures the imagination, I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just glass-fragile falsetto that balances bit- with accidental, far-off sounds of Sit Whether admiring the pressedter truths with a closing wish: “Don’t emergency vehicles blending bliss- metal ceilings in a piece of suburban let the world get you down.” fully with the neo-folkie’s plucked real estate or referring to roadkill as “possum Jackson Pollock”, this acoustic guitar. CULT LEADER Lightless Walk Bleak Australian indie-rock songwriter and brutal, crust outfit Cult Leader’s KENDRICK LAMAR To Pimp a finds poetry in the boring minutiae latest has vocalist Anthony Lucero Butterfly The latest epic from King of everyday life. working through his depression Kendrick bounces flows above postabove the flesh-rending fury of his modern baps, P-funk–approved DESTROYER Poison Season Now bandmates. Though the record is grooves, and wild acid-jazz arrange- 10 albums in, Dan Bejar still braveimpressively devastating, a welcome ments. Lyrically, it hits big with ly refuses to settle into a comfort sliver of hope arrives on “Sympa- prideful poetry, society-damning zone. This time around, he delves thetic”, where an optimistic burst critique, a conversation with the late into smooth-jazz balladry, stompof melody peeks through the oozing 2Pac, and the determined rallying ing glam, clattering salsa, and see next page cry “We gon’ be alright.” isolation, if only temporarily.

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 51

Our favourite music

from previous page

sweeping neoclassical, making this his most amibitious masterpiece yet. DRAKE If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late Drizzy has perfected the art of glorifying hedonism while poignantly highlighting the superficiality of his lifestyle. Here, he spends nearly 70 minutes bragging about how famous he is, and yet I come away from it feeling sorry for him. FATHER JOHN MISTY I Love You,

Honeybear Equal parts cynic and romantic, former Fleet Foxes member Joshua Tillman conjures up lavish baroque-folk arrangements and disJenny Lysander knits sweaters out covers that true love means finding of the fur that her 12 cats shed. someone who hates all of the same those words lightly, as Yoakam’s things that he does. penchant for ’60s pop from the Beach GRIMES Art Angels When did it sud- Boys to the Searchers—both subtly denly become cool for underground quoted in the title track, dear trainartists to start embracing slick-sound- spotters—has never been so seaming mainstream pop? Art Angels is lessly integrated into his hillbilly simultaneously one of the catchiest deluxe. records of the year and one of the weirdest, as Claire Boucher sounds JENNY LYSANDER Northern Folk equally comfortable dabbling in Marvellously suicidal, frighteningly Swiftian country-pop (“California”), delicate acoustic folk, hatched in Taiwanese rap-metal (“Scream”), and Sweden, recorded in rural France, all of it primed to dispel the tiresome everything in between. braggadocio and narcissism of modKENDRICK LAMAR To Pimp a ern R&B, the endless wrongheadedButterfly The year was sadly filled with ness of “empowering” distaff pop, the reports of race-related tensions south crippled circle-jerk that is indie rock, of the border, and King Kendrick cap- and the ever-deepening alienation tured the times with this dizzying, of life here in Shit Town, B.C. (Just masterful rap opera. It’s both an auto- quoting her Indiegogo pitch here.) biographical tale of Lamar’s struggles with fame and a scathing social cri- KACEY MUSGRAVES Pageant Matique. I can’t remember ever hearing terial I’m not sure I’m enjoying this a more visceral lyric than this: “I’m country-radio barnburner the way African-American, I’m African/I’m I’m supposed to, but I can’t imagine black as the heart of a fucking Aryan.” it makes any difference to the fiercely talented Ms. Musgraves. Opener MAC MCCAUGHAN Non-Believers “High Time” is countrypolitan retro It took the Superchunk frontman dialled to maximum hokiness, with until his late 40s to finally release an a hook built around somebody whisalbum under his own name. He doles tling. Marty Robbins and Bobbie out advice to troubled youngsters Gentry nod their heads in approval. (“Real Darkness”), reminisces about the old days (“Your Hologram”), and THE LONDON SOULS Here Come joyfully rages against the apocalypse the Girls This is the year that I re(“Come Upstairs”), making Non- nounced rock music (seriously—fuck Believers a touching and multifaceted off, rock music), but sometimes you have to put ideology aside and grateportrait of middle-aged maturity. fully accept that somebody went PANDA BEAR Panda Bear Meets and made the Badfinger record that the Grim Reaper Animal Collective’s should have followed Straight Up. yelpy neotribal shtick sounds woefully outdated in 2015, but Panda Bear’s af- PROMISED LAND SOUND For Use finity for luminescent pop melodies and Delight All of this year’s choices and squalling synth weirdness has his are really little communiqués to my past selves, with this one being adsolo work holding up quite nicely. dressed to the flu-stricken kid lisSUFJAN STEVENS Carrie & Lowell tening to Music From Big Pink for Once known for ornate orchestral the first time while he tripped on arrangements, Sufjan Stevens strips NeoCitran and Bell’s Scotch on his down on this folksy eulogy for his 19th birthday. long-troubled mother. It’s a stark reflection on the emotional scars left SAM OUTLAW Angeleno Boy oh by death and bad parenting, and yet boy, he’s asking for trouble with that its quiet beauty is comforting rather name (actually borrowed from his than harrowing. For all the morbid- mother, but still). Then those first ity, my favourite lyric is, “My brother few swooning, orchestral seconds of had a daughter/The beauty that she “Who Do You Think You Are?” come at ya like a lost Glen Campbell clasbrings, illumination.” sic and boom, there you are, on my THEE AHS Names These locals used top 10. to be the twee-est of the twee, but they’ve since gone in a grungy direc- SARAH BLASKO Eternal Return tion. Every track here takes its title Blasko throws everything into the from someone’s first name, and per- hopper, from Giorgio Moroder–esque sonal tributes like “Olga” and “An- blips and squelches to new-wave drew” show that Thee AHs have shed urban funk, creating an ahistoric their cuteness without losing their mindspace into which she then steps, a scary goddess with towering superheartfelt sweetness. emotions and the talent to blast your ADRIAN MACK heart open. Or a bunch of very good love songs, if you like. Me? I like songs. SIMON LOVE It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time Full-blown go-go ALEX BLEEKER AND THE FREAKS twattery from the U.K. “With you, I’m Country Agenda I have a country agen- alright, it’s just everybody else who da of my own, but it’s grim and violent, can fuck off and die,” he sings (flatly) and has nothing to do with music. Alex in “The New Adam & Eve”. Or “our Bleeker’s Country Agenda, on the other song”, as it’s known at my house. hand, is what you get when a Brooklynite from a band I don’t care about (Real TOBIAS JESSO JR. Goon I’m just a Estate) tries to sound like another band sentimental old fluff, deep down (and I don’t care about (the Grateful Dead). even on the surface). Does North Van It’s a fail-safe recipe for who-gives-a- native Tobias Jesso Jr. really need any fuck, and yet here I am, licking Bleek- help from me, here at the end of his er’s bowl. Life is truly full of surprises. favourite year, pimping this gloriously accomplished singer-songwritDWIGHT YOAKAM Second Hand er debut? Probably not. Does he need Heart Effortlessly fab. I don’t use a Jesse Eisenberg joke? Debatable. -

52 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

the

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DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 53

MUSIC

Graveyard’s bluesy rock is very much alive When your band is called Grave-

2 yard, it’s no surprise that you

sometimes get pegged as yet another grinding death-metal act. According to Graveyard frontman Joakim Nilsson, it happens quite a bit. “Yeah, we hear that a lot,” says the 37-year-old singer-guitarist, on the line from his home outside Gothenburg, Sweden. “But I think everybody has to just hear us once and that problem will go away in the future.” Musically and lyrically, Graveyard is miles away from death metal—or any other form of extreme music. It’s a straightforward hard-rock band with hooks and melodies aplenty, and a healthy blues base. On the quartet’s fourth and latest album, Innocence & Decadence, that bluesy side is well represented by tunes like “Too Much Is Not Enough” and “Far Too Close”. “The last five or six years the band has been listening a lot to the original guys,” notes Nilsson, “Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters and everybody. And also the English groups— Fleetwood Mac and stuff like that. Fleetwood Mac is really big for us, I think, the early years with Peter Green. Everybody in the band really likes his stuff.” There are also nods to bands like Free and other guitar-based ’70s acts in Graveyard’s riff-based approach. But its 2012 Lights Out album was not a tip of the hat to UFO, which released its own Lights Out album— and raging title track—back in ’77. “There is an album by Entombed also that’s called Lights Out,” Nilsson explains. “But we didn’t think about it like that. I mean, when we discussed what we were gonna call the album, we felt like that was our hardest and most angry album so far. And also as we were working on the cover for the album we couldn’t really get a guy that worked for us, so we just used the black square on the album, and the title suited it pretty good.”

On this week’s episode of White Dudes With Guitars, it’s (clockwise from top left) Graveyard, Charlie Hunter, and the Lazys.

Lights Out was the final Graveyard disc to feature original bassist Rikard Edlund, who left the group last year. But it wasn’t a major problem replacing him in the lineup. “It kinda solved itself,” says Nilsson. “I mean, when we started writing songs for the new album we asked our old friend [Truls Mörck], who was on the first album playing guitar, if he could just come to our house and play with us. Everything worked out really good when he was with us, and we asked him to stay and he wanted to. “And also it feels good to have one of the original members back in the band,” he adds, “so we haven’t done

that much to the lineup. Just one guy instrumentalists than trombonist leaves and another guy comes back.” Curtis Fowlkes, who smears bluesy > STEVE NEWTON moans and ecstatic cries over the intricate but deeply funky rhythms of Graveyard plays Venue on Saturday Bobby Previte’s drums and Hunter’s (December 12). seven-string bass/guitar hybrid. It’s probably not going too far to call Fowlkes the Aretha Franklin of his instrument, for he’s similarly capable of deploying monstrous chops in the service of deep feeling. Only one thing is keeping the Kudos to Hunter for casting this Charlie Hunter Trio’s new Let underappreciated musician as the the Bells Ring On from being named star of his new band—not that the one of the best jazz-vocal releases of guitarist or the drummer is in any 2015: the band lacks a singer. That’s way subordinate. “I’m glad you hear sometimes hard to tell, though, for that, because that’s exactly what I there are few more human-sounding was thinking,” says the friendly but

Guitarist Charlie Hunter thinks like a drummer

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laconic bandleader, checking in from a Santa Cruz, California, tour stop. “It’s all about his sensibility and the way he approaches his instrument. Of course, if I’d wanted to do something that was, like, über-slick and polished and super-techie, I would have gotten different people, but I wanted to do something that had a deeper narrative of experience and soul and R&B and the blues but that also had that improvisational and creative aspect as well. That’s why Bobby and Curtis are doing it.” The 48-year-old Hunter confides that he had another motive for asking the 65-year-old trombonist and 64-year-old drummer to complete his “improvising R&B group”. “If you want the sound to have the sensibility of people who grew up when Bobby and Curtis grew up, you need to get people like that to begin with,” he says, laughing. There’s a paradox to what Hunter himself is doing, however. Compared to the innovative musician’s early Blue Note albums, the selfreleased Let the Bells Ring On is relatively straightforward and far more raw—the reverse of how musical evolution is supposed to work. For Hunter, this increasingly emotional approach has to do with his deeper understanding of his self-invented instrument, which pairs the lower three strings of an electric bass with the middle four of a guitar. “Ultimately, you’ve got to think like a drummer more than anything else,” he explains. “If you think somewhere in between a drummer and, you know, Blind Blake or Mississippi John Hurt, then you’ll be able to really do it. But if you think ‘Oh, this bass part has to be this and the guitar part has to be this,’ then it’s not always going to work, because you’re going to be doing too many things that don’t really fit together, see next page

rhythmically. Whatever magic there is happens in the counterpoint—the interdependence between the bass part and the guitar part.” There’s another reason, too, why Hunter’s sounding bluesier than ever. “In the early times,” he says, “I wanted everyone to accept me as a jazz musician. That was really important to me—and it’s just something that’s not important to me anymore. So maybe I’m going back to my roots!”

> ALEXANDER VARTY

The Charlie Hunter Trio plays the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University on Saturday (December 12) .

Oz’s Lazys work hard for their Canadian fan base As a business strategy, it doesn’t

2 make a lot of sense: hopping on

a plane and coming halfway around the world to tour the sweaty clubs

of Canada. But when one considers what’s gone on in Australia’s music scene over the past couple of years, the Lazys’ decision to spend good chunks of time in our country isn’t as crazy as it seems. As we approach the midpoint of this decade, Oz’s prime musical exports are either psych-f lavoured guitar projects (Tame Impala, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard) or certifiable EDM stars (Flume, Tommy Trash). To look at the Land Down Under today is to conclude that old-fashioned brass-balled rock ’n’ roll is on life support, the glory days of AC/DC and Rose Tattoo long in the past. Lazys singer Leon Harrison doesn’t necessarily disagree with that assessment. “Lots of venues are shutting down in Australia, and there’s not a lot of rock radio,” the outgoing frontman says, on the line from a Winnipeg tour stop. “That’s disappointing, in a sense. It’s just hard—really hard— because obviously rock ’n’ roll isn’t

at the forefront of what’s happening there at this point in time.” That explains why Harrison is kicking back in Manitoba at the start of Canadian winter when the Straight reaches him on his cellphone. Along with his bandmates—guitarists Mat Morris and Liam Shearer, bassist Glenn Williams, and drummer Andy Neilsen—the singer has become more familiar with Canada’s major highways and cities than he ever dreamed he would. “We were just here in October, and it was great,” he says. “And we’ve got a summer tour next year planned, and everyone is just pumped.” The reason for that is, right from the first time they played Canada, over the past two years the Lazys have discovered there’s an audience for what they do: kicking out the jams with built-for-stadiums, Back in Black–brand rock ’n’ roll. Blazing with Marshall-powered riffage and fist-pumping choruses, the band’s eponymous debut doesn’t find the Lazys aiming for a featured

spot on Gorilla Vs. Bear or aBest New Music mention on Pitchfork. Instead, the quintet would rather have you load up your wineskin with Black Tower and hit the parking lot with a Trans Am stereo cranked, mack jackets and Dayton boots encouraged but strictly optional. “We’ve got a unique story—we’ve been playing since 2007 in Australia, and have done a shitload of slogging it out over there,” Harrison says. “That was, in our opinion, worth it to build what we now have behind us, which is our live show.” And after getting ground down attempting to gain traction at home, the Lazys have been thrilled to discover that Great White North rock fans not only get what they are doing, but are stoked that someone’s carrying the hard-rock torch. “As the pubs in Australia decided not to put live music on, live bands either died on the DJ decks, or decided to chase other markets, which is what we’ve done,” Harrison notes. “There’s a band from

Australia called Airborne—they are our friends—and they’re very, very successful here and in Europe, but when they go home, their tours aren’t the same as in North America. And that’s okay. We’re getting to travel the world, meet new friends, and expand our fan base internationally.” That explains why, with Christmas approaching, the Lazys aren’t at home shopping, but instead are grinding it out, again, on the road in Canada. There are days—Harrison admits—when he and his bandmates wonder if they’re crazy. “Last year we did a tour, and it was disgraceful—you couldn’t even see the road because of the snow,” he marvels. “I remember sitting in the van, saying ‘What the fuck is going on?’ and the boys going, ‘You just need to take some Valium, shut up, and drive.’ ” > MIKE USINGER

The Lazys play Venue on Tuesday (December 15).

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 55

MUSIC

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n Greek, alpha and omega are the this understanding that he has 20 first and last letters of the alpha- years of experience in the indusbet. In religious texts, the two try, and more knowledge than 99.9 words often refer to the begin- percent of other rappers out there, ning and the end of all things. but that doesn’t stop us from conSo when two MCs with different stantly feeding off of each other,” levels of experience form a duo and says Neph. “It’s very much just a call it Alpha Omega, who’s which? bounty of ideas, and it’s equated to Prevail, a 20-year veteran of the in- us being on the same level.” dustry known best for his role as one It was on the 2013 release “Vicehalf of the platinum-selling rap crew roy”, a single from Neph’s EP, Swollen Members, has paired up with The Black Box, that the two first his real-life nephew Neph (short for worked together. “That video got his nickname, the quite a bit of love Nefarious One) to for my first release, drop beats, write Amanda Siebert so we decided we’d rhymes, and, in create some more Prev’s words, “get back to the rudimentary level of what music together,” Neph says of Alpha Omega’s beginnings. makes poetry tick”. After nearly a year in the stuFor them, the connotations of their name are varying and inter- dio, the two completed their first EP, The Concept, as well as parts changeable. “It’s duplicit [sic] in the sense that of their as-yet-unreleased second I’ve been in the game for a while, and and third EPs, The Strain and The Neph is just coming into it,” says Outbreak. The conceptual EPs will Prev over beers at a Kitsilano pub. share a theme, centring around similar ideas and woven together Neph sits to his left. “In some ways I’m the alpha be- visually with album art by anime cause I sort of set this off, and Neph artist Paul Lavallée. According to Prevail, the duo is the omega because he’ll close the chapter, but in other ways I’m the made a point of “producing The Conomega because I’m in the twilight. cept in the classical hip-hop sense, He’s the fresh face, so he’s the alpha not in orchestrating the music, but in because he’s new on the scene and driving each other through the proI’m passing the mantle off to him.” duction aspect and the various tastPrev and Neph look more like ing notes” to ensure quality control long-time homies than uncle and from start to finish. Melodious interludes punctuate nephew, and their interactions onstage, in the studio, and while being six tracks, each packed with swift interviewed are a testament to their rhyming and thunderous instrumentation. Compositions blend atypical relationship. Neph says Prev has always been sounds characteristic of the underan integral part of his life—“an im- ground scene with new-school samportant figure and very much a role pling that isn’t tacky or repetitive. The pizzicato violins in The Conmodel” as they grew up together in Victoria. The two may be sep- cept’s opening track, “Toxic Avenarated by 12 years, but the age gap gers”, set the stage for the speed and never stopped Prev from sneak- precision with which both Prevail ing a young Neph into his Swollen and Neph approach their verses. Members shows and inviting him “Ghost Town” brings the tempo down and incorporates backspins to jump on-stage with the group. “We’ve had a lot of these really and a simple but well-tooled beat, awesome experiences growing up, complete with a haunting vocal sambut by no means was I looking at ple, and “Forcefield” and “Bluntly it like I was moulding or sculpting Speaking” follow suit. Things pick him,” says Prev of Neph’s early ca- up again on “A.O.”, where big-band reer path. “It wasn’t like ‘Let’s do this hooks and dizzying lyrical speed because it’s family and I should pay close out the EP with a track you it forward.’ He’s really, really good. won’t soon forget. On the road, Neph perfects his That adds authenticity to something on-stage game and Prev, now in that is already wholly real.” It may not have been expected the thick of his second inception at the time, but for Neph, the pro- in the industry, works to redefine gression that led to the formation his approach. The beginning of of Alpha Omega makes sense now. one’s career has signalled the reAmong the lessons he’s learned invigoration of the other’s, and from his uncle, he says, the most the constant cycle of teaching and important has been to stay humble. learning from each other has provIt’s that shared humility that al- en Prevail and Neph to be equal; lows them to work together, free each one part alpha and one part from any age- or experience-relat- omega. ed hierarchy. “There’s very much a mutual re- Alpha Omega hits M.I.A (350 Water spect between the both of us. I have Street) on Thursday (December 10).

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56 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

MUSIC

label Light in the Attic Records. Vancouver DJ and vinyl collector Kevin Howes, a former Georgia Straight editorial assistant whose performing name is Sipreano, is named as compilation producer; mastering engineer Greg Mindorff, from East Vanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suite Sound Labs, also received a nomination. The three-LP (two-CD), 34-track release, nominated in the best-historical-album category, will compete with four other records for the prestigious award to be presented on February 15, 2016, including a compilation of Bob Dylan and The Band bootleg recordings and another of Erroll Garnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music. The Native North America LP package includes an extensive 60-page historical booklet with liner notes by Howes. Howes told the Straight he was busy fielding media requests for interviews and information. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was just announced this morning, so I woke up to the news,â&#x20AC;? he said by phone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to be recognized for your work, but I immediately think of all the artists on the compilation whose music inspired me to do this in the first place.â&#x20AC;? The compilationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musicians include Willie Dunn, Sugluk, Willie Thrasher, Lloyd Cheechoo, Willy Mitchell, Peter Frank, Lawrence Martin, and Alexis Utatnaq. Howes, who previously worked with Light in the Attic to produce a compilation of transplanted Jamaican music, Jamaica to Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967-1974 , among others, said he has been calling the musicians who appear on Native North America to tell them about the Grammy nomination. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone was very excited to hear the news,â&#x20AC;? he said, noting that he has made calls to Vancouver Island, Manitoba, Toronto, Sudbury, James Bay, Nunavut, and points in between. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And I think of the artists who weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lost even since the compilation was made,â&#x20AC;? he added. Publicity for the album, which debuted to favourable reviews from publications such as Rolling Stone, is nice, he added, noting that Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major music awards, the Junos, â&#x20AC;&#x153;donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a category for historical recordings or reissuesâ&#x20AC;?. Of the situation for indigenous musical artists in this country, he said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really hope, once again, that this is a wake-up to the Canadian music industry. Hopefully, this > LUCY LAU [Grammy nomination] will lead to some bookings for some of these artists.â&#x20AC;? FROM THE VAULTS TO A The self-described â&#x20AC;&#x153;crate diggerâ&#x20AC;? GRAMMY A Vancouver-made compilation record of forgotten or neglected said his greatest satisfaction comes North American aboriginal music from from the people who inspired the 1960s, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70s, and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s has received a him to put together a collection of their music. nomination for a 2016 Grammy award. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My biggest reward is the feedback The album, Native North America from the artists. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all the recogniVol. 1: Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and tion that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever need.â&#x20AC;? Country 1966-1985, was released almost a year ago by Seattle-based > MARTIN DUNPHY et ready to party like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1999. And 1989. And so on. The Waldorf is celebrating its iconic Tiki Barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 60th birthday with a multiroom bash that will feature music from six decades this Saturday (December 12). A private VIP party begins at 7 p.m. in the Tiki Bar, where Vinyl Richie will be spinning beats straight from the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;50s. Each hour will see the sets switch to the music of subsequent eras, which will be accompanied by dance performances, art installations, and mesmerizing visuals by local artist Darren Woodhead. A special menu of decade-appropriate cocktails ($10) and shooters ($5) will switch up at the top of every hour. The barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tropical cocktails, including the famous boozy coconuts, will also be available throughout the night. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted the party to be an experience for the people; everyone always just gets the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DJ,â&#x20AC;? Jon Campbell, marketing director at the Waldorf, tells the Straight. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is our way of giving them something different while thinking about the history of the Waldorf.â&#x20AC;? Vinyl Richie will play songs from the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;50s, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s, and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70s in the Tiki Bar until 9 p.m., after which Dream Suite Saturdaysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; resident DJs Kalibo Music and Thomas Maxe will take over with sets inspired by the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s, and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;00s until 2 a.m. Downstairs in the Tabu Room, Tank Gyal will warm up the stage ahead of a live performance by R&B/funk band Daddy and the Near Death Experience. DJs Samuel Scott and Wolfey are set to spin until the wee hours of the morning. The Hideaway Room will see a lineup of entertainment hosted by Electric Input DJs Dr. Seiz and Spurz. The Waldorfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current owner, Viaggio Hospitality, has updated the Tiki Bar in preparation for the occasion, outfitting the space with new mirrors, palm-fronds, and LED lights. The company purchased the historic venue in 2013 and opted to renovate the building after much public outcry about its demise. The private VIP party will take place at the bar from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Doors open to the public at 10 p.m., with no cover until midnight. Cover is $10 afterward. Groups can RSVP for both the VIP and public portions of the event through email. For more information, see the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page.

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The Waldorfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tiki Bar celebrates 60 years 10TH ANNIVERSARY

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: &RUGRYD 6W $EERWW [ &RUGRYD *DVWRZQ ZZZ LJQLWHVPRNHVKRS FD 9DSRUL]HUV ( &LJDUHWWHV ( -XLFH $FFHVVRULHV DQG PRUH )ROORZ XV RQ ,QVWDJUDP )DFHERRN 7ZLWWHU DECEMBER 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 57

POWER QUINTET New York City jazz group composed of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, vibraphone player Steve Nelson, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Bill Stewart. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Jan 8-9, 8 pm, Frankie’s (765 Beatty). Tix $62, info www.coastaljazz.ca/.

music/ timeout CONCERTS < CLUBS & VENUES < OUT OF TOWN <

CONCERTS 2JUST ANNOUNCED MAGFEST: GAME OVER VANCOUVER A music and gaming festival features performances by Bryface, the Runaway Four, and missingNo. Dec 17, 8 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $15, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/. PUGS & CROWS Canadian instrumental band tours in support of new album Everyone Knows Everyone, Part 2, with guest guitarist Tony Wilson. Dec 17, 8-11 pm, Western Front (303 E. 8th). Tix $15, info www.pugsandcrows.com/. CHRISTMAS RAPPIN’ 6 California rapper Casey Veggies performs with Dkay, Fizal, KIDS, Ghost Music Page, Seth Kay, Spotty Josif, and JayKin. Dec 17, 10 pm, Alexander Gastown (91 Powell). Tix $15-20, info www.alexandergastown.com/.

straight choices

DIECEMBERFEST 7 Metal music by local bands Mendozza, Life Against Death, Skull Vultures, Nightterrors, Assimilation, Heron, Cadaveric Lividity, Burning Ghats, Bog, the Nautilus, Pyramidion, Cryptic Enslavement, Revenger, and Precious Dudes. Dec 11-12, 8 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $20, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/.

REMI BOLDUC JAZZ ENSEMBLE Montreal jazz group presents a tribute to jazz legend Dave Brubeck. Jan 14, 8 pm, Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St., New Westminster). Tix $50/25, info www.ticketsnw.ca/. OLD MAN CANYON Vancouver electrofolk band led by Jett Pace. Jan 15, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Fox Cabaret (2321 Main). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $16 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. LYDOM, BUGGE & HØIRUP The Rogue Folk Club presents Danish folk musicians Sonnich Lydom, Kristian Bugge, and Morten Alfred Høirup. Jan 15, 8 pm, St. James Hall (3214 W. 10th). Tix $24/20, info www.rogue folk.bc.ca/concerts/ev16011520/. STEVE DAVIS SEXTET American jazz group led by trombonist Steve Davis pays tribute to the music of trombone icon J.J. Johnson. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Jan 15-17, 8 pm, Frankie’s (765 Beatty). Tix $62, info www.coastaljazz.ca/. BAPTISTS AND POWER TRIP Vancouver and Texas metal bands coheadline, with guests Long Knife, WTCHDR, and M16. Jan 16, 7 pm, Rickshaw Theatre (254 E. Hastings). Tix $16, info www.rickshawtheatre.com/. YUKON BLONDE Canadian indie-rock band tours in support of latest release On Blonde. Feb 5, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $20 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.

JPNSGRLS Vancouver garage-pop band tours in support of latest LP Circulation, with guests the Written Years and Hawking. Dec 19, 8 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $10 (plus service charges and fees), info www.mrgconcerts.com/.

THE BOOTS & BABES BALL A Valentine’s Day evening of life entertainment and music by Side One. Feb 13, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $25 at the door/19.37 in advance (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.

JAZZ VESPERS OLD TIME FAMILY CHRISTMAS Jim Byrnes performs a familyfriendly Christmas concert with Deanna Knight, Don Stewart, Wayne Stewart, Jaclyn Guillou, Jamie Croll, and Emma Cooper. Dec 20, 4 pm, St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson). Admission by donation, info www.standrewswesley.com/.

CHES SMITH, CRAIG TABORN, AND MAT MANERI New York City jazz drummer Smith, pianist Taborn, and violist Maneri perform in support of debut CD The Bell. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Feb 17, 8 pm, Western Front (303 E. 8th). Tix $28, info www.coastaljazz.ca/.

NEW YEARS EVE WITH DAWN PEMBERTON Vancouver-based jazz vocalist performs with drummer Mike Ardagh, pianist Ian Cox, and bassist Derek DiFilippo. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Dec 31, 9 pm, Frankie’s (765 Beatty). Tix $90, info www.coastaljazz.ca/.

DIANE COFFEE American indie musician and Foxygen member tours in support of latest solo release Everybody’s a Good Dog. Feb 20, doors 8 pm, show 8:30 pm, Cobalt (917 Main). Tix $10 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/.

The Georgia Straight Confessions, an outlet for submitting revelations about your private lives—or for the voyeurs among us who want to read what other people have disclosed.

TACOCAT AND SALLIE FORD Coheadlining show featuring American indie bands. Dec 12, doors 7 pm, show 8:30 pm, Cobalt (917 Main). Tix $13 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/.

THE GARDEN Sometimes we end up blessed just in time for Christmas. Earlier this year, the Garden took a step toward eventual global domination— not to mention the cover of Alternative Press —by embarking on a North American tour. Vancouver was lucky enough to be included among the stops, with the band’s founding twins, Fletcher and Wyatt Shears, doing a preshow interview with the Straight in which they talked about everything from oldwave SoCal punk to modelling in Paris, France. Now, thanks to their sophomore album, Haha, the Shears siblings are about to make their second visit to Vancity in 2015, pulling into the Cobalt this Sunday (December 13). As with their 2013 debut, The Life and Times of a Paperclip, the new outing somehow makes sense of a world where 7 Seconds and Herb Alpert hit the California surf with the Cramps, and Minutemen are bigger than Bruce Springsteen ever was. As a bonus, the twins are also crazily hot, which—let’s face it—is pretty much a prerequisite for achieving total global domination. For the second time this year, you’ll get the chance to say, “I saw them when…” AN EVENING WITH THE CHARLES LLOYD QUARTET American jazz saxophonist performs with pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Joe Sanders, and drummer Eric Harland. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Feb 20, 8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $64 (plus service charge) at www.ticket fly.com/, info www.coastaljazz.ca/. JOSEPH Portland indie-folk-pop sister trio tours in support of debut release Native Dreamer Kin. Mar 4, doors 7 pm, show 8:30 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $15 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. CANNIBAL CORPSE American deathmetal band tours in support of latest release A Skeletal Domain, with guests Obituary, Cryptopsy, and Abysmal Dawn. Mar 4, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $32.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. RADIATION CITY & DEEP SEA DIVER American indie-rock band coheadlines with American pop group. Mar 17, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $12 (plus service charges and fees), info www.mrgconcerts.com/. THE IRISH ROVERS Canadian-Irish folk group performs on St. Patrick’s Day as part of CelticFest Vancouver. Mar 17, 8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Info www. celticfestvancouver.com/. RADIO RADIO Canadian electro/hip-hop band tours in support of new album Light the Sky. Mar 26, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $13 (plus service charges and fees), info www.mrgconcerts.com/.

Scan to confess How many calories? today i ate a whole box of cranberry bliss bars from Starbucks, they had them on sale

That guy on the dance oor I partied too hard one night and while on the dance floor, I turned into THAT guy. You know, the guy that invades personal space and grinds up behind you. The guy that people avoid like the plague. I’m so fucking embarassed.

Social Skills My cat has better ones than her owner - this creature understands the concept of boundaries, speaks up at appropriate times, and provides quiet peace at the right times.

Message in a bottle. I don’t want to date the prettiest girl in town, I would like to date a woman who makes their own world beautiful. I don’t want you to admire me for my money, I would like you to stand by me when I struggle. I don’t like it when you play with my mind, I love it when you explore it.

Impossible Vancouver What the actual fuck is happening to Vancouver? My dream of moving home has been totally squashed. Affordable housing is a basic need, is it not? I’m staying in Australia despite it being remote and a little racist. At least here (not Sydney or Melbourne) I can rent a house like a fucking adult and earn a livable wage. Seriously though, I’m feeling for you guys!

Visit

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58 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

EUGENE RIPPER Canadian punk-folk rocker tours in support of latest recordings Fast Folk Underground 4.0 and Hangman. Dec 11, 8 pm, Skinny Fat Jack’s (3475 Main). Admission by donation, info www.face book.com/events/757341377728961/.

LITTLE GREEN CARS Irish folk-rock band returns to Vancouver. Mar 31, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Cobalt (917 Main). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $13 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. METRIC AND DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Canadian indie-rock band coheadlines with American alt-rock band on their Lights on the Horizon tour. Apr 1, doors 6 pm, show 6:45 pm, Thunderbird Arena (6066 Thunderbird Blvd., UBC). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $60.50/56/40.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. THE NYLONS Canadian a cappella group performs on its farewell tour. Apr 9, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, River Rock Show Theatre (River Rock Casino Resort, 8811 River Rd., Richmond). Tix on sale Dec 10, 10 am, $24.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/. CHICK COREA AND BELA FLECK American jazz pianist-composer coheadlines with American jazz banjoist. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Apr 22, 8 pm, Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe). Tix $96/85/74 (plus service charge) at www. ticketfly.com/, info www.coastaljazz.ca/. JOE SATRIANI Bay Area guitar wizard performs tunes from latest album Shockwave Supernova. Apr 24, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver (2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $64.50/54.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.ticketmaster.ca/, info www.hard rockcasinovancouver.com/. THE 1975 British rock band tours in support of upcoming sophomore album I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, with guests the Japanese House. Apr 27, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Thunderbird Arena (6066 Thunderbird Blvd., UBC). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $49.50/45/35 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. SAID THE WHALE Vancouver-based indie-rock band road tests material for upcoming album. May 7, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Fox Cabaret (2321 Main). Tix on sale Dec 11, 10 am, $25 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.

2THIS WEEK L.A. WITCH Los Angeles rock band, with guests Feels. Dec 10, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Cobalt (917 Main). Tix $10 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/.

KIASMOS Experimental duo tours in support of self-titled debut release, with guests Florestano. Dec 12, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $20 (plus service charges and fees) at Zulu, Highlife Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. GRAVEYARD Swedish hard-rock band tours in support of upcoming release Innocence and Decadence, with guests Earthless. Dec 12, doors 7 pm, show 8:30 pm, Venue (881 Granville). Tix $20 (plus service charges and fees). SOLD OUT. COASTLINE PILOT Vancouver rock band performs with local acts One & Zeroes and Gabe & the Oh Yeahs. Dec 12, 7:30 pm, Studio Records (919 Granville). Tix $12/10, info www.facebook.com/ events/178638739145587/. CHARLIE HUNTER TRIO American jazz guitarist-composer performs with trombonist Curtis Fowlkes and drummer Bobby Previte. Dec 12, 8 pm, BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts (2055 Purcell Way). Tix $28/25, info www. capilanou.ca/blueshorefinancialcentre/.

FRAZEY FORD Singer-songwriter tours in support of latest release Indian Ocean. Dec 10, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $23 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Highlife Records, and www.ticketfly.com/.

GUIDED BY ROBOTS Local indie rockers SK Robot and vocalist Kevin Perley present a tribute to Guided by Voices. Proceeds go to the Canucks Autism Network. Dec 12, 8 pm, ANZA Club (3 W. 8th Ave). Admission by donation, info www.facebook.com/ SK-Robot-235940013087488/.

MUSE English alt-rock band performs on its Drones World Tour, with guests Phantogram. Dec 10, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $85/65/45/29.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.

CRASH WORLD Local blues-rock duo, with guests Spruce Trap and Farmteam. Dec 12, 8:30 pm, Seven Dining Lounge (53 W. Broadway). Tix $10, info www.face book.com/crashworldband/.

JARVIS CHURCH Canadian R&B vocalist and Philosopher Kings member. Dec 10, 8 pm, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby). Tix $25-35, info www.shadboltcentre.com/. MATT WILSON CHRISTMAS TREE-O Drummer Matt Wilson, saxophonist Jeff Lederer, and bassist Paul Sikivie put a new stamp on holiday classics like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Winter Wonderland”. Presented by Coastal Jazz. Dec 10, 8 pm, Western Front (303 E. 8th). Tix $28 (plus service charge) at www.coastaljazz.ticketfly.com/, info www. coastaljazz.ca/. CO-OP RADIO 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY Music by Sick Nation’s JBlaq and Lane, Spit & Giggles, Attikus, David Morin, KIDS, Torio Jones, Indelible, and Blue Team Blue. Dec 10, 9 pm, Red Room Ultrabar (398 Richards). Tix $10, info www.eventbrite. ca/e/urban-renewal-project-vancouverco-op-radio-3-year-anniversary-partytickets-19504318943/.

on the web!

For up-to-the-minute, searchable Music Time Out listings, visit

www.straight.com

MAJID JORDAN Canadian producer/ singer duo, with guests SJS DJs and LeChance. Dec 10, 10 pm, Alexander Gastown (91 Powell). Tix $20 (plus service charge) at www.ticketweb.ca/, info www. alexandergastown.com/. CLANCYS ANGELS East Van rock choir performs music by David Bowie, MGMT, Kanye West, Peter Gabriel, John Lennon, Neil Young, James Brown, and Talking Heads. Dec 11, WISE Hall (1882 Adanac). Tix $20, info www.clancysangels.ca/. DRAGONETTE AND YOUNG EMPIRES Canadian electropop group will coheadline with Toronto rock band, with guests Dirty Radio. Dec 11, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). Tix $25 (plus service charges and fees) at www. livenation.com/.

GREEN VELVET American electronica and house music singer, songwriter, and producer, with guests Kevin Shiu and Aly Abji. Dec 12, 10 pm, M.I.A. (350 Water St.). Tix $15, info www.areyoumia.com/. NITE*MOVES WITH SEXY SAX MAN Saxophonist Sergio Flores performs with guests CAN I LIVE, Tristan Orchard, Harvey Harvey, and Stephie Boo. Dec 12, 10:30 pm, Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). Tix $10 (plus service charges and fees), info www.mrgconcerts.com/. THE GARDEN Southern California punk duo tours in support of latest release Haha. Dec 13, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm, Cobalt (917 Main). Tix $13 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/. JAZZ VESPERS WITH DEANNA KNIGHT Local swing vocalist performs Christmas songs. Dec 13, 4-5 pm, St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson). Admission by donation, info www.standrewswesley.com/. THE BREAKTHROUGH COUNTRY MUSIC PROJECT Music by country acts Rafael Rico, Michelle Schultz, Cash Crawford, Raquel Cole, and Rowdy Spurs. Dec 13, 7 pm, The Roxy (932 Granville). Tix $7, info www.facebook.com/ events/453770154809086/. MILEY CYRUS & HER DEAD PETZ American singer-songwriter and actor tours in support of latest release Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz, accompanied by Flaming Lips. Dec 14, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton). Tix $69.69 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. HIP-HOP KARAOKE 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Live performances by DJ Flipout, DJ Seko, Brevner, Heatwave, Insightful, Chippy Nonstop, Dave Fields, Immerz, Kyprios, Creed Taylor, Vials, Stroker DeLuca, and Northwest Division. Dec 14, Fortune Sound Club (147 E. Pender). Tix $7/3, info www.fortunesoundclub.com/. BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA HOLIDAY SHOW American gospel group performs a Christmas show. Dec 14, 8 pm, Kay Meek Centre (1700 Mathers Ave., West Van). Info www.kaymeekcentre.com/.

REPTAR Alt-rock band from Athens, Georgia, performs with guests Breathers. Dec 11, Media Club (695 Cambie). Tix $13 (plus service charges and fees), info www. mrgconcerts.com/.

ONE BAD SON Rock quartet from Saskatoon, with guests the Lazys from Australia. Dec 15, 8 pm, Venue (881 Granville). Tix $15 (plus service charge) at www.bplive.ca/.

THE ENGLISH BEAT British ska-revivalist group. Dec 11, 7 pm, Venue (881 Granville). Tix $23 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu, and www.bplive.ca/.

DAN DEACON American electronica composer-musician tours in support of latest release Glass Riffer. Dec 15, doors 8 pm, show 9:30 pm, Cobalt (917 Main). Tix $15 (plus service charges and fees) at Red Cat, Zulu Records, and www.ticketweb.ca/.

DANA SIPOS, FAMILIAR WILD, AND T. NILE The Rogue Folk Club presents music by three independent Canadian artists. Dec 11, 8 pm, St. James Hall (3214 W. 10th). Tix $20/16, info www.roguefolk.bc.ca/ concerts/ev15110220/. HUNNY Southern California post-punk sextet. Dec 11, 8 pm, Media Club (695 Cambie). Tix $12 (plus service charges and fees), info www.mrgconcerts.com/.

HOLIDAY HULA Nimbus School of Recording and Media and Business Class Records presents a Hawaiian-themed grad show featuring music by the Faceplants, Goodwood Atoms, Parlour Panther, and Rafael Rico. Dec 16, 8 pm, Waldorf Hotel (1489 E. Hastings). Tix $10, info www.face book.com/events/1512904359008909/.

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DVBAIS Berlin synth-pop artist, with guests Terror Bird, Fake Tears, and Black Magique. Dec 16-17, 8 pm, Pseudonym. Tix $7-10 , info www.facebook.com/ events/461223534063835/.

Mar 1 2THORNLEY Mar 12 2ULI JON ROTH’S ULTIMATE GUITAR EXPERIENCE Mar 19 2NAPALM DEATH AND MELVINS May 2 2PRONG May 29

VOGUE THEATRE 918 Granville, 604569-1144. Tix at www.voguetheatre. com/. 2TWENTY ONE PILOTS Dec 9 2FRAZEY FORD Dec 10 2DRAGONETTE AND YOUNG EMPIRES Dec 11 2NICK LOWE’S QUALITY HOLIDAY REVUE Dec 19 2#SINGITFWDFINALE Jan 14 2TY SEGALL AND THE MUGGERS Jan 22 2THE WOOD BROTHERS Jan 31 2TROYE SIVAN Feb 3 2SNOWED IN COMEDY TOUR Feb 6 2BOOKER T JONES Feb 13 2LOGIC Feb 15 2MATT ANDERSEN Feb 18 2AN EVENING WITH THE CHARLES LLOYD QUARTET Feb 20 2JEREMY HOTZ Feb 26 2VINCE STAPLES Mar 1 2THE IRISH ROVERS Mar 17 2DAUGHTER Mar 18 2RACHEL PLATTEN Mar 28 2ALESSIA CARA Mar 29 2JOANNA NEWSOM Mar 30

2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS CONTACT WINTER MUSIC FESTIVAL Electronica festival features music by Above & Beyond, Hardwell, Steve Angello, DJ Snake, Andrew Rayel, Oliver Heldens, Klingande, Tchami, 3LAU, Bakermat, Jauz, Mercer, Jai Wolf, Vanic, Wiwek, Snails, Slander, and Nghtmre. Dec 26-27, 5 pm, BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific). Tix $250/175/150 (plus service charges and fees) at www.contact-festival.com/. JUSTIN BIEBER Canadian pop superstar performs on his Purpose World Tour. Mar 11, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix at www.aeglive.com/. ELLIE GOULDING British pop sensation performs on her Delirium World Tour. Apr 1, doors 6 pm, show 7 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $62.25/47.25/32.25 (plus service charges and fees) at www. livenation.com/. RIHANNA Barbados-born R&B singersongwriter performs on her Anti World Tour, with guest Travis Scott. Apr 23, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $151/100.50/60.50/30.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www. livenation.com/. SELENA GOMEZ American pop singersongwriter and actor performs on her worldwide Revival Tour. May 14, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $89.50/69.50/49.50 (plus service charges and fees) at www. livenation.com/. CITY AND COLOUR Canadian alt-rock singer-songwriter tours in support of new LP If I Should Go Before You, with guests Shakey Graves. Jun 3, doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $65/49.50/35 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/. DEMI LOVATO AND NICK JONAS American pop sensations perform on their Future Now: The Tour. Aug 24, 7:30 pm, Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way). Tix $99.95/59.95/29.95 (plus service charges and fees) at www.livenation.com/.

CLUBS & VENUES ALEXANDER GASTOWN 91 Powell, 778379-0407. Gastown club, lounge, and live music venue featuring weekly club nights and various concerts. 2MAJID JORDAN Dec 10 2CHRISTMAS RAPPIN’ 6 Dec 17 2ALEXANDER GASTOWN X HYPHY NYE 2016 Dec 31 ASTORIA PUB 769 E. Hastings, 604-254-3636. Dudette Sun, Live Fast! Mon, Their Satanic Majesties Request DJs Tue; local and touring bands and DJs Thu-Sat. 2THE DARK EIGHTIES: CULT EIGHTIES DANCE HITS Dec 12 2GIGANTIC: THE EAST VAN 90S PARTY Dec 18 2POOR HOLIDAY DECISIONS: $5 BOXING DAY TRAP HIPHOP LIT SH*T Dec 26 AT THE WALDORF 1489 E. Hastings, 604-253-7141. The Waldorf has been a Vancouver mainstay since the late 1940s with its retro and Polynesian décor. Three separate rooms, including Tiki Room, Tabu, and the Hideaway. Cherryoke Wed, Tank Gyal & guests Thu; live music & dance party Fri; Thomas Maxey & Kalibo Sat. Tiki Bar open 6 pm Wed-Sat. BACKSTAGE LOUNGE Arts Club Theatre, 1585 Johnston, Granville Island, 604-6871354. Vancouver’s only live-music venue on the water, with music nightly. Live band karaoke hosted by Sami Ghawi and Reuben Avery Tue at 9:30 pm. BELMONT BAR 1006 Granville, 604-6054340. Fresh and local fare, craft beer and wine on tap, and live entertainment nightly. Open daily at 5 pm. BILTMORE CABARET 2755 Prince Edward, 604-676-0541. 2KIASMOS Dec 12 2NITE*MOVES WITH SEXY SAX MAN Dec 12 2JPNSGRLS Dec 19 2GREG BEAMISH BOXING DAY BASH Dec 26 2KITTY NIGHTS BURLESQUE: HAPPY NUDE YEAR BASH Dec 27 2DEVOTCHKA Jan 8 2JD MCPHERSON Jan 11 2TRIBAL SEEDS Jan 22 2FREAK HEAT WAVES Jan 27 2THE BRIGHT LIGHT SOCIAL HOUR Jan 30 2DANCE YOURSELF CLEAN: THE TOUR Feb 4 2BAIO Feb 5 2WET Feb 10 2JOSEPH Mar 4 2AOIFE O’DONOVAN Mar 5 2ROBYN HITCHCOCK Mar 10 2RADIATION CITY & DEEP SEA DIVER Mar 17 2AN EVENING WITH GREG DULLI Mar 22 2RADIO RADIO Mar 26 BIMINI PUBLIC HOUSE 2010 W. 4th, 604733-7116. Twenty-four taps of rotating and interesting craft beers. Pub trivia Mon; beer club Tue; Wing Wed; dance party Fri-Sat; happy hour 3-6 pm. BLACKBIRD PUBLIC HOUSE & OYSTER BAR 905 Dunsmuir, 604-899-4456. Bistro and public house with oyster bar, barbershop, Scotch bar, and live music Wed-Fri. Open daily at 11 am. Happy hour 3-6 pm. CHARLES BAR 136 W. Cordova, 604-5688040. Gastown sports bar features nine-foot HD screen and DJs on weekend nights. Wavy Fridays with DJs Seko&Marvel; Back & Forth Saturdays with rap, R&B, and club classics. Open Sun-Thu from 11:30 am to 1 am, Fri-Sat from 11:30 am to 3 am. CINEMA PUBLIC HOUSE 901 Granville, 604-694-0202. Pub featuring craft beer and cocktails, pub food, late-night menu, and weekend brunch. DJs all night Wed-Sun. Happy hour 3-6 pm.

COBALT 917 Main, 778-918-3671. 2L.A. WITCH Dec 10 2TACOCAT AND SALLIE FORD Dec 12 2THE GARDEN Dec 13 2DAN DEACON Dec 15 2PITY SEX Dec 22 2MAJICAL CLOUDZ Jan 22 2CAR SEAT HEADREST Jan 24 2SAINTSENECA Jan 31 2DIANE COFFEE Feb 20 2ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER Mar 4 2ANDERSON EAST Mar 5 2ALEX G AND PORCHES Mar 26 2LITTLE GREEN CARS Mar 31

open jam night Sun from 4 to 8 pm. Open at 9 am with breakfast and daily food specials. Pool tourney Thu. No cover. 2BLIND PIGEON Dec 11 2SONS OF THE HOE Dec 13 2RHYTHM ST. Dec 18 268 LIPS Dec 19 2SONS OF THE HOE Dec 20 2MIKE MACHADO Dec 25 2SONS OF THE HOE Dec 27 2SAVAGE Dec 31

LAMPLIGHTER PUBLIC HOUSE 92 Water, 604-687-4424. Pub trivia with Nice Guys Inc. Tue; bourbon and bingo Wed; Rocksteady with DJs Arems, Hoppa & Rexx Thu; FKYA DJs Fri; DJ Antonia & Friends Sat.

COMMODORE BALLROOM 868 Granville, 604-739-4550. Tix at www.commodoreball room.ca/. 2K-OS Dec 9 230TH ANNUAL BLUES FOR CHRISTMAS Dec 20 2FUNK THE HALLS Dec 22 2NERO Dec 29 2ERIC LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE PRYDZ Jan 2 2THE DEVIL MAKES THREE 300 W. Georgia, 604-633-9644. Free pinJan 19 2NATHANIEL RATELIFF AND THE NIGHT SWEATS Jan 21 2CHASE RICE Jan 24, ball Wed, Show Me Love ‘90s party Fri; 2016 2 CORB LUND Jan 296 2ARKELLS Feb Saturday Night Special dance party Sat. 1 2YUKON BLONDE Feb 5 2THE BOOTS & Canucks and Whitecaps pregame. BABES BALL Feb 13 2THE MUSICAL BOX: LULU’S LOUNGE River Rock Casino Resort, SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND Feb 8811 River Rd., Richmond, 604-247-8562. Live 17 2THE SHEEPDOGS Feb 18 2MONSTER music Wed-Sat, no cover. 2TAYLOR JAMES TRUCK Feb 25 2CLASSIFIED Feb 27 Dec 10 2HITZONE Dec 11 2RACHAEL 2FRANK TURNER AND THE SLEEPING CHATOOR Dec 17 2TOY ZEBRA Dec 18 SOULS Mar 3 2CANNIBAL CORPSE Mar 4 2DELHI 2 DUBLIN Mar 5 2REBELUTION Mar 2RACHAEL CHATOOR Dec 24 2POP JUNKIES Dec 25 2LUV SHAK Dec 31 6 2ANJUNABEATS Mar 10 2DISTURBED Mar 11 2THE WAILERS Mar 12 2MOTOWN M.I.A. 350 Water St., 604-408-4321. MELTDOWN Mar 19 2AFRO-CUBAN Gastown’s newest intimate nightclub ALL STARS Mar 20 2WOLFMOTHER Apr and special-event space, equipped 1 2THE DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR 2016 with an industry-leading Funktion-One Apr 2 2CIARA Apr 5 2GARY CLARK JR. Soundsystem, hosting local & touring Apr 12 2SPIRIT OF THE WEST Apr 15 2ST. electronic, live, & club events weekly. GERMAIN Apr 18 2GREEN VELVET Dec 12 2ILLUMINATE NYE Dec 31 DOOLIN’S IRISH PUB 654 Nelson, 604605-4343. Live music Sun-Thu, with acoustic MEDIA CLUB 695 Cambie, 604-608-2871. soloist or duo Sun-Wed and live band Live music most nights. 2REPTAR Dec Thu DJ Fri-Sat. 11 2HUNNY Dec 11 2RIHANNA TRIBUTE NIGHT Dec 18 2BIG JOHN BATES Dec 31 FORTUNE SOUND CLUB 147 E. Pender, 2THE EAGLE ROCK GOSPEL SINGERS Jan 604-569-1758. 2EKALI AT HAPPY ENDING 30 2HEY MARSEILLES Mar 4 FRIDAYS Dec 11 2CHINATOWN MALL HOLIDAY SALE Dec 13 2HIP-HOP ORPHEUM THEATRE 601 Smithe, 604-665KARAOKE 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Dec 14 3050. 2VANCE JOY Jan 12 2BLUE RODEO 2FORTUNE SOUND 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Jan 26 2HEART Mar 8 2LEON BRIDGES Dec 17 2LIL DEBBIE Dec 18 2DJ Mar 15 2CHICK COREA AND BELA FLECK MUSTARD Dec 19 2BEAT CONNECTION Apr 22 2RAFFI Apr 23 Dec 19 2HOT CHIP (DJ SET) Dec 29 2FORTUNE SOUND NYE 2016 Dec 31 QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE 650 2CHROME SPARKS Jan 20 2MIKE STUD Hamilton, 604-665-3050. 2MILEY CYRUS & Mar 3 2PROTOMARTYR AND CHASTITY HER DEAD PETZ Dec 14 2JOHNNY REID BELT Mar 8 Feb 1 2YAMATO, THE DRUMMERS OF JAPAN Feb 6 2TWENTY ONE PILOTS Apr FOX CABARET 2321 Main. 2NOTHING 10 2RAIN Apr 20 2IL DIVO Nov 6 BUT TREBLE: A VAUDEVILLE AFFAIR Dec 23 2OLD MAN CANYON Jan 15 2LET’S REPUBLIC 958 Granville, 604-669-3214. NOT BEAT EACH OTHER TO DEATH Jan House, hip-hop, EDM, chart, and reggae. 21 2EL TOPO Jan 22 2HAROLD BUDD Open seven days a week from 10 pm to Jan 23 2ROOMFUL OF TEETH Jan 25 3 am. 214TH ANNUAL DONNELLY FUND 2FOND OF TIGERS Jan 28 2SONGS OF TOY DRIVE Dec 8 RESILIENCE Jan 29 2THE SOCIETY OF THE SPECTACLE Jan 30 2ANTHROPOLOGIES RICKSHAW THEATRE 254 E. Hastings, IMAGINAIRES Feb 1 2DECODER 2017 604-681-8915. 2DIECEMBERFEST 7 Dec Feb 4 2A LIVING DOCUMENTARY Feb 11 2LUCITERRA DANCE COMPANY 5 2DECLARATIONS Feb 6 2SAID THE Dec 13 2PYJAMA PARTY Dec 16 WHALE May 7 2MAGFEST: GAME OVER VANCOUVER Dec 17 2KEITHMAS VI: A FOOD BANK FRANKIE’S 765 Beatty, 778-727-0337. FUNDRAGER Dec 18 2THE SUMNER Coastal Jazz presents live jazz and BROTHERS 10TH ANNUAL XMAS PARTY blues throughout the weekend (ThuEXTRAVAGANZA Dec 19 2ROCK Sun). 2CORY WEEDS TRIBUTE TO THE TILL YOU DROP Dec 20 2YOB Dec 31 TENORS Dec 10 2PJ PERRY QUARTET Dec 2BAPTISTS AND POWER TRIP Jan 16 12 2MILES BLACK TRIO PLAYS SONNY 2ZIMMERS HOLE Jan 23 2UNKNOWN CLARK Dec 17 2RUMBA CALZADA MORTAL ORCHESTRA AND LOWER DENS Dec 18 2SARAH KENNEDY PLAYS JONI Jan 28 2ENFORCER AND WARBRINGER MITCHELL AND CHARLES MINGUS Dec Jan 30 2THE DREADNOUGHTS 19 2WE THREE QUEENS Dec 20 2DAWN Feb 13 2PARQUET COURTS Feb 20 PEMBERTON Dec 31 2NEW YEARS EVE 2CRADLE OF FILTH Feb 24 2REVEREND WITH DAWN PEMBERTON Dec 31 HORTON HEAT Mar 10 2LUCA TURILLI’S RHASPODY AND PRIMAL FEAR May FUNKY WINKER BEANS 37 W. Hastings, 9 2KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD 604-764-7865. Evil Bastard Karaoke WIZARD May 28 Experience Sun-Thurs; Sunday afternoon blues with Leonard & the Lab Rats 3-7 RIVER ROCK SHOW THEATRE River pm; metal Mondays, football Tuesdays, Rock Casino Resort, 8811 River Rd., live punk, metal, and alternative bands Richmond, 604-247-8900. Tix for all shows Fri-Sat. 2LA CHINGA, SMASH ALLEY, at www.ticketmaster.ca/. 2CHRISTMAS WETT STILETTOS, MAKING STRANGERS WITH THE RAT PACK Dec 19 2BURTON Dec 11 2KILLING MACHINE (JUDAS PRIEST TRIBUTE), BLACKOUT (SCORPIONS CUMMINGS Dec 30 2ANDRE-PHILIPPE GAGNON Dec 31 2THE NYLONS Apr 9 TRIBUTE) Dec 12 2LEGION OF GOONS, MOLTEN LAVA, STREETSWEEPER Dec ROGERS ARENA 800 Griffiths Way, 60418 2OGROEM, FUNCTOR, TERMINAL 899-7400. Concert venue and home SEQUENCE, PEST SYNAPSE Dec 19 to the Vancouver Canucks. 2MUSE Dec 10 2JUSTIN BIEBER Mar 11 2ELLIE HARD ROCK CASINO VANCOUVER GOULDING Apr 1 2IRON MAIDEN Apr 10 2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam, 604-5232RIHANNA Apr 23 2THE WHO May 13 6888. 2TROOPER Dec 31 2STEVEN WRIGHT Jan 9 2LEWIS BLACK Feb 28 2SELENA GOMEZ May 14 2HEDLEY May 20 2CITY AND COLOUR Jun 3 2DIXIE 2ED KOWALCZYK Mar 3 2GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS Apr 21 CHICKS Jul 7 2DEMI LOVATO AND NICK 2JOE SATRIANI Apr 24 JONAS Aug 24 THE IMPERIAL 319 Main, 604-868-0494. Vancouver’s newest midsize music venue features live bands and DJs. 2VANESSA CARLTON Jan 14 2SONNY LANDRETH Jan 17 2SHIGETO Jan 22 2THE KNOCKS Feb 3 2SUPER FURRY ANIMALS Feb 4 2YOUNG GALAXY Feb 10 2LAKE STREET DIVE Mar 1 2DAMIEN DEMPSEY Mar 5 2SILVERSTEIN Mar 8 2JUNIOR BOYS Mar 10 2WE ARE THE CITY Mar 11 2POLICA Mar 30 IVANHOE PUB 1038 Main, 604-608-1444. Pub with live bands on weekends and

MODE, NIKITA AFON Dec 14 2THE KYLA COOPMAN BAND Dec 16 2SOUNDSTEM, ALTERMIND Dec 18 2KILL CADENCE Dec 19 2SONS OF DAUGHTERS Dec 20 2CHARLIE PEARS-SMITH Dec 21 2THE SUNSET KIDS Dec 22 2DAVID ALEXANDER Dec 23 2TABOO QUEEN Dec 28 ST. JAMES HALL 3214 W. 10th, 604736-3022. 250-seat venue at St. James Community Square features concerts presented by the Rogue Folk Club. 2DANA SIPOS, FAMILIAR WILD, AND T. NILE Dec 11 2VAN DJANGO BELLS Dec 18 2LYDOM, BUGGE & HØIRUP Jan 15 TAVERN AT THE NEW OXFORD 1141 Hamilton, 604-669-4848. Yaletown comedy Tue; Skee-ball and rock, paper, scissors tournament Wed, the SHOW Thu with live hip-hop, rap, and R&B; ‘90s weekends with DJ Tower Fri and DJ Kenya Sat. TEN TEN TAPAS 1010 Beach Ave. West Coast tapas restaurant featuring live music four nights a week at 7 pm. Rising artists Thu, flamenco guitar Fri, hornman Gabriel Hasselbach Sat, soul/R&B Sun. Guest musicians/singers every weekend. No cover; reservations recommended. THE THREE BRITS 1780 Davie (at Denman), 604-801-6681. The West End’s only craft-beer house, steps away from English Bay. Pub trivia with the Nice Guys Wed at 7 pm; brunch daily till 4 pm. VENUE 881 Granville, 604-646-0064. Tix for all events at www.venuelive.ca/ and www. bplive.ca/ 2MUSHROOMHEAD Dec 9 2THE ENGLISH BEAT Dec 11 2GRAVEYARD Dec 12 2ONE BAD SON Dec 15 2NEW YEARS EVE: UNDER THE STARS Dec 31 2VENOM INC. Jan 16 2KILLING JOKE Feb 2 2DR. DOG Feb 6 2ST. LUCIA

WISE HALL 1882 Adanac, 604-254-5858. Live music by local artists and international touring acts. 2CLANCYS ANGELS Dec 11 2IMPROMPTU ROCK CHOIR: EAST VANCOUVER PARTY NIGHT Dec 15 2SSRIS Dec 18

OUT OF TOWN 2JUST ANNOUNCED SLAYER American heavy-metal legends, with guests Testament and Carcass. Mar 19, 7:30 pm, Paramount Theatre (911 Pine St., Seattle, Wash.). Tix at www.stgpresents.org/.

2THIS WEEK BILLY GIBBONS AND THE BFG’S ZZ Top guitarist-vocalist leads his new AfroCuban flavoured band, performing tunes from new album Perfectamundo. Dec 13, 8 pm, The Neptune (1303 N.E. 45th St., Seattle, Wash.). Tix US$49.50 (plus service charge) at www.stgpresents.org/.

2UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS BUMBERSHOOT Seattle’s 46th annual music and arts festival features live music, comedy, theatre, film, visual arts, and children’s programming. Sep 2-4, Seattle Center (Seattle, Wash.). Weekend passes at www.bumbershoot.com/.

TIME OUT MUSIC LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space and editorial discretion. We can’t guarantee inclusion, and we give priority to events taking place within one week of publication. Submit listings online using the event-submission form at straight.com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.

THE ROXY 932 Granville, 604-331-7999. House band Tattoo Alibi Sat & Mon; country band Locked & Loaded Sun; the Bulge and DJ Joe Pound Tue; Troys ‘R Us Wed-Thu. 2FICKLE YOUTH, THE FLYING FISH MONGERS Dec 9 2TODDCAST PODCAST CHEAP THRILLS VOLUME 2 WITH DOMINIQUE FRICOT Dec 10 2ON THE RUN, AMPLITUDE Dec 11 2TAYLOR SKELTON, THE ECHOS, ANDRE CHRYS Dec 12 2THE BREAKTHROUGH COUNTRY MUSIC PROJECT Dec 13 2PANIC

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 59

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60 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

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MOVIES REVIEWS CAROL Starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Rated PG. For showtimes, please see page 64

Shortly after the Second World War, young

2 Texas-born writer Patricia Highsmith, about

to make a name for herself with Strangers on a Train, spent a few weeks working at Bloomingdale’s. Uncharacteristically ensconced in the doll department, she spied an ethereal blond and— much in the manner of Alfred Hitchcock, who would direct Strangers—fantasized about who this remote, fur-coated figure might be. The result was her second novel, The Price of Salt, which proved radioactive to her publisher, but was lucratively issued under the pseudonym Claire Morgan. The problem: the lead characters are lesbians, and they don’t die in the end. (Highsmith’s inspiration did, but that’s another story.) In Todd Haynes’s flawless Carol, Cate Blanchett perfectly embodies the title character, a suburban socialite, slightly vacuous but effortlessly elegant,

Pride, in the name of love

Cate Blanchett embodies titular character Carol, a stylish surburban socialite whose affair with a poor female photographer (Rooney Mara) triggers a domestic storm.

once-great Wim Wenders cares more about Things and Places than actual People. Certainly, the cast is largely inanimate in this Same-sex romance Carol is love in the time of Eisenhower; two-hour slog through rural Canada, starting when two My Internship in Canada is an old-fashioned political farce small boys on a snowy who crosses paths with dirt-poor photographer road are struck by the Range Rover driven by Therese Belivet (an equally strong Rooney Mara), a novelist (James Franco) whose talent is never herself working temporarily in a Manhattan de- evidenced in any way. The imperturbable stonipartment store over Christmas of 1952. They’re ness of nature may be the real subject here; it’s magnetically drawn to each other, and their orbit the only credible motivation for the use of 3-D, pushes away everyone else, including Therese’s nag- wasted on this dimly lit mope opera when not ging boyfriend (Jake Lacy) and Carol’s soon-to-be lavished on trees, water, and grassy fields. Okay, no one expects Michael Bay action from ex-husband (Kyle Chandler), who starts a war over their young daughter. Only the older, wealthier the maker of Wings of Desire. And Wenders, who woman’s best friend and ex-lover (Sarah Paulson) has had better luck with docs (like Pina) lately, always had a static way with actors. The charismatic seems able to weather the following storm. Starting with sleek costumes by Oscar magnet faces of Paris, Texas and his many America-besotted Sandy Powell and production design by American road pictures—even those shot in Wall-era West Hustle’s Judy Becker, Haynes and cinematograph- Germany—actually reacted to ever-shifting backer Ed Lachman (who also shot Far From Heaven, grounds and tentative attempts at deeper comMildred Pierce, and I’m Not There for him) util- munication. Here, Franco’s heavy-lidded mask ized 16mm film, blew that up to 35mm, and then remains impassive before Rachel McAdams, transferred that to digital, capitalizing on the sporting a randomly adopted Quebec accent, as resulting explosion of grain and distorted visual his long-suffering girlfriend. “We want different artifacts. But despite the delirious settings and things,” his Tomas explains. “I want to be a writer. You want children, and I don’t.” technical tricks, the tale is not frozen in amber. That level of discourse follows the tale as A midsection road trip opens the story to faster-paced genre elements. (This was the only entry it jumps forward, when Tomas, now driving a in Highsmith’s oeuvre not to feature a violent sensible Volvo, visits the accident victims’ mothcrime, but there’s still a gun in the works.) The er (Charlotte Gainsbourg), and later starts a new result may be too tastefully restrained for some family with an assistant (Marie-Josée Croze) to viewers, but for most it will play as a dream fugue his publisher (Peter Stormare). The latter makes of heart-piercing beauty. Carol captures the spe- the fantastically original observation that writcifics of one relationship thwarted by Eisenhower- ers incorporate bad personal experiences into era conventions even as it whispers timeless truth their fiction—those bastards! Wenders and scripter Bjørn Olaf Johanabout the affairs of almost any heart. > KEN EISNER nessen (Nowhere Man) should have listened, because their product here contains few genuinely EVERY THING WILL BE FINE personal insights. A long parade of obvious banalities, the film is made faux-mysterious by Starring James Franco. Rated G. For showtimes, the baleful stares of actors who appear never to please see page 64 have laid eyes on each other, or even their lines, The oddly constructed title Every Thing Will before each scene begins. Alexandre Desplat’s Be Fine conveys the ultimately dull struggle generic-thriller piano tinkling doesn’t help, exof a German director to work with a Norwegian cept to remind us that a movie’s only a movie— screenwriter and an international cast in a curi- and sometimes less than that. > KEN EISNER ously placeless Quebec. It also suggests that the

WEEK IN WIDESCREEN

WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL Asian-shot Canadian films led the winners at the 2015 Whistler Film Festival awards ceremony, held at the Whistler Conference Centre on December 6. The Laotian-Canadian thriller River garnered three awards: best screenplay, best director (Jamie M. Dagg, pictured above), and best Canadian feature. Filmmaker Jane Hui Wang collected the world documentary award for Last Harvest, along with the Alliance of Women Film Journalists award for best female-directed documentary. Veteran actor Paul Savoie won the best-actor award for The Diary of an Old Man. Rossif Sutherland (River, pictured above) and Laura Abramsen (Basic Human Needs, The Sabbatical) received honourable mentions. The festival wrapped with Jason Goode’s B.C.–set feature Numb. For more on WFF, visit Straight.com. -

Directed by Laurie Anderson. Rating unavailable. For showtimes, please see page 64

Heart of a Dog is at once a bold step in personal,

2 experimental cinema and of a piece with Laurie

Anderson’s body of work. The beauty of the film—well, one beauty among many—is that it allows her to amalgamate all of her interests in one multimedia package. The principal interest, at least initially, is Anderson’s relationship with her late dog, a rat terrier called Lolabelle. The veteran musician-storyteller is an unreliable, if reliably entertaining, narrator; can we really believe her intricate tales of the acquisition, decline, and piano-playing skills of this lovable pet? No matter. It’s enough to have the elegant, incantatory flow of animated images, old photographs, and rough street footage (some from decidedly canine POVs), all held together by Anderson’s hypnotic music and hushed, often childlike poetry. It’s not until near the end of the 75-minute work that you really get the sense of its hidden subject: the death of husband and creative counterweight Lou Reed. He shows up briefly, as a doctor in a dreamlike reenactment, and on the soundtrack at the end. Then it hits you, with full yet somehow sublime force, that enduring this kind of loss is the main price of being human.

> KEN EISNER

MY INTERNSHIP IN CANADA Starring Patrick Huard. Rated PG. For showtimes, please see page 64

So, they really do make films like this any-

2 more. Returning from his Hollywood near-

miss with The Good Lie, Quebec’s Philippe Falardeau has fashioned a distinctly old-fashioned political farce as cozy as a big woolly sweater, and about as desirable, depending on your fashion sense. In this version of Canada, an independent MP in northern Quebec, Steve Guibord (Starbuck’s Patrick Huard), finds himself with the deciding vote when the PM—Paul Doucet, in a merry, all-too-forgiving riff on Stephen Harper— pushes for war against a deadlocked Parliament. (A running joke about an absent MP incapacitated by her boob job might give you an idea of the gummy level of satire on offer here.) see next page

MOVIES

The projector

Local heroes

HEART OF A DOG

What to see and where to see it

THE HIDDEN FORTRESS Nicely timed with the reawakening of the Force, Vancity Theatre presents a rated-for-youth screening of the film that George Lucas ripped off in the first place. Mercifully, Akira Kurosawa turned down the chance to direct Return of the Jedi (December 12).

THE GOLD RUSH Take it from a proud parent: there isn’t a single generation of kids that isn’t instantly captivated by the sight of the Tramp eating his shoe in a phantasmagoric, black-and-white Klondike. Chaplin’s classic gets a matinee screening at the Cinematheque on Sunday (December 13).

THAT’S LIFE! A FRANK SINATRA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION On the occasion of his 100th birthday, Ol’ Blue Eyes gets a special clip show hosted by film historian Michael van den Bos, at the Vancity Theatre on Sunday (December 13). From Here to Eternity screens right after.

Festival forever

PEOPLE PLACES THINGS Actor Jemaine Clement takes the lead in People Places Things, a bittersweet comedy about a newly single dad, coming to iTunes and VOD on Friday (December 11). Once he wrapped that film, the taller half of Flight of the Conchords was in Vancouver filming Steven Spielberg’s The BFG. Did we treat him right? “Yeah, very well, very well,” said Clement, calling from Wellington, New Zealand. “And I really liked working with the local extras who play a lot of the giants. They were very dedicated. I had a good time!” Go to Straight.com for a full interview with Clement, DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 61

MOVIES KRAMPUS

My Internship

from previous page

Fortunately for our morally weakkneed hero, busy trying to settle disputes between loggers and an Algonquin band, not to mention the divisions at home between his hawkish wife (Suzanne Clément) and peacenik daughter (Clémence DufresneDeslières), along comes that intern, Souverain, played by appealing newcomer Irdens Exantus. The joke is that Souverain’s idealism—he arrives from Haiti clutching a copy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract—will provide Guibord with his salvation. The belief in good government is adorable, not to mention as blisteringly contemporary as the film’s “colourful” take on Haitians or its hoary old gags about people who stutter. That Guibord is also a former hockey player indicates the level of overexertion here, or possibly Falardeau’s relief at being home again. It’s a warm, fitfully amusing picture—politicians are really just bumbling nice guys who will ultimately yield to their conscience, right?—but some might prefer to weather the cold.

Starring Adam Scott. Rated 14A. For showtimes, please see page 64

Anyone who enjoyed mid-’80s

2 horror-comedies that relied on

animatronic puppets for their chills and chuckles—movies like Gremlins and the lower-rent Ghoulies—may get a mild kick out of Krampus. Starting out with a Christmas Vacation vibe, Krampus sees your typical affluent American family—parents Tom and Sarah (Adam Scott and Toni Collette) and teenage kids Max and Beth (Emjay Anthony and Stefania LaVie Owen)—preparing for Christmas with the dreaded in-laws: Hummerdriving survivalist type Uncle Howard (David Koechner) and his boorish brood. As an unwelcome surprise they’ve brought along trashy Aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell), so she can waddle into the kitchen, absorb the seasonal décor, and declare: “It looks like Martha Stewart threw up in here!” Things get dysfunctional pretty quick as Max’s sentimental letter to Santa gets intercepted and read aloud at dinner by one of the visiting brats, > ADRIAN MACK leading the disillusioned kid to rip

WINNER!

it up and toss it out the window, inadvertently summoning a horned, cloven-hoofed, talon-fingered demonthingy that leaps from rooftop to rooftop, bringing nothing but bad cheer. After an evil gingerbread man sets a trap in the chimney for one of the kids, Max’s kindly grandma Omi (Krista Stadler) is compelled to tell—in a beautifully animated stop-motion sequence—how the mythological Krampus first appeared to her when she was a child back in Germany. Around this time the anti-Santa’s little helpers—an array of menacing toys from hell—break out of their gift-wrapping and join the gingerbread men, forcing the two families to take up arms (shotguns, axes, icicles) against the rampage. “I just got my ass kicked by a bunch of Christmas cookies!” proclaims Howard after one of the more comical attack scenes. It all leads up to a noisy, overdone climax that tries to drive home a Big Christmas Message but only leaves you hoping for another onslaught from those twisted versions of that show-stealing cookie from Shrek. > STEVE NEWTON

TRUMBO Starring Bryan Cranston. Rated PG. For showtimes, please see page 64

Trumbo is a sometimes stiff

2 but ultimately compelling col-

laboration between Bryan Cranston and director Jay Roach, who shed his Austin Powers baggage with HBO’s Game Change, which detailed the bizarre rise of Sarah Palin. The parallels between the post-Palin Republican circus and Cold War paranoia are apparent in John McNamara’s showy script, which draws on great swaths of language created by its main subject. After scoring with scripts for hits like Kitty Foyle, Dalton Trumbo (Cranston) was targeted by Hollywood bigwigs who hated his pro-labour agitation. He goes to jail for refusing to testify before McCarthyite witch-hunters, leaving behind his loyal wife (an underused Diane Lane) and three bewildered children, the oldest of whom turns into Elle Fanning and a major challenge to his unyielding self-absorption. Seen in droopy mustaches and an increasingly stooped gait, the star— who’ll soon play Lyndon Johnson for see page 64

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A series of deaths inspired Laurie Anderson to make Heart of a Dog.

Inside the Heart of our surveillance > BY ALEXAN DER VAR TY

f we discount George Orwell’s 1984, which was more of a prediction than a reaction, Laurie Anderson’s Heart of a Dog might be the first great work of art to emerge from the surveillance state. And yet that’s not what viewers will initially take away from the multimedia artist’s new fulllength film, which in typical Anderson fashion merges visual art, philosophical meditation, whimsy, existential angst, music, and more. Sparked by a plague of deaths in her orbit—her mother; her husband, Lou Reed; her beloved rat terrier Lolabelle—Heart of a Dog initially presents itself as an autobiography of sorts. But that, Anderson says, was never her intent. “I think of it more as an essay than an autobiography,” she stresses, in a telephone interview from New York City. “I’m not really trying to say ‘Get to know me; this is who I am.’ It’s more like a series of questions, like ‘How do you get to know yourself? How do you draw a picture of that? And who’s writing this?’ So I tried to make that really clear at the very beginning with this idea of a ‘dream body’ that is separate from you, and the first dream being this preposterous thing.” Said “thing”, presented as a string of accomplished sketches with narrative overlay, finds Anderson having Lolabelle sewn into her torso so that she can give birth to her pet. It’s a grotesque nativity scene, but it also delivers viewers into an ever-expanding mesh of images and metaphors: the former taken from home movies, surveillance cameras, and the artist’s sketchbook, and the latter generated in her mind as she attempts—through Buddhism, solitude, and work—to come to terms with her losses. At one point in the film, making an oblique but palpable link between the devastation New York felt after 9/11 and her own internal turmoil, she muses: “So many things are being recorded… fragmented conversations full of jump cuts and distortion. And what are the stories that emerge from these fragments? And why are they being collected? A portrait of you made up of data trails.” Anderson’s reservations about autobiography aside, the notion of a haphazardly documented life is a large part of Heart of a Dog—and perhaps a model for the way it has been structured. “Interesting,” she says when this is suggested, in a familiar and quizzical voice. “That’s very key to how you put fragments together and make up stories. They seem like disparate elements, and then you almost push a narrative through those things that aren’t even necessarily in chronological order. “The hardest thing about this film was finding the engine that pushed it through,” she continues. “Because otherwise it’s like a lot of interesting little vignettes and short stories, but where is it going?” Where Heart of a Dog ultimately lands will depend on what each viewer brings to it; it’s open-ended enough to allow for multiple interpretations. And one of those, Anderson suggests, is that life is too short to let it pass unexamined. “For me,” she explains, “what Buddhism and being an artist have in common is that there’s nothing to believe in. The only thing they’re both about is just ‘Be aware.’ ” Heart of a Dog opens at the Vancity Theatre on Friday (December 11).

MOVIES

Carol, a love story that dares speak its name > B Y KEN EISNE R

cinch for nominations in several Oscar categories, one of the most talked-about and best-reviewed movies of the year is Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, opening this Friday (November 11). To make it, veteran director Todd Haynes utilized a preexisting screenplay from Phyllis Nagy, who adapted it from Patricia Highsmith’s The Price of Salt. “As you know,” Haynes says, calling from his Portland, Oregon, home, “this is the first thing I’ve made that I didn’t really write and develop myself. Turned out that it was pretty exciting to work with a different kind of energy: less prep time, less research time than it usually takes. And that left me some freedom to concentrate on different aspects of the story.” Nagy, a New York reporter who became an acclaimed London playwright, got to know Highsmith during the late American author’s elder years in England. The author of Strangers on a Train and the Ripley books encouraged the younger woman to adapt one of her novels. Nagy eventually hit on Salt, published pseudonymously

Rooney Mara stars as a novice photographer who falls for a socialite, played by Cate Blanchett in Todd Haynes’s Carol.

in 1952, when publishers thought the book’s up-front lesbian content would be an instant career-killer. It was subsequently issued under Highsmith’s own name in the 1980s and rechristened Carol, after the object of its narrator’s desire. Nagy conflated some of Salt’s characters, cleverly incorporating bits of Highsmith’s own history into the tale. But the gist is intact.

“Phyllis had been working on her screenplay for almost 20 years,” Haynes explains, “and it was very close to what we ended up with. There were some structural changes, mostly inspired by Brief Encounter, with what you could call a conversation interrupted by the rest of the movie.” That 1945 David Lean romance is an obvious touchstone for Haynes, who

likewise revived the Technicolor bathos of Douglas Sirk in Far From Heaven, about a closeted hubby in the witchhunting 1950s. That and his HBO take on Mildred Pierce are period companion pieces to the new film, which stars Blanchett (she also played a version of Bob Dylan in Haynes’s offbeat I’m Not There) as socialite Carol and Mara as budding photographer Therese, who

drops everything to travel across the U.S. with her barely hidden crush. In the gorgeously shot film, the central relationship is less maternal and more balanced than in the book. Carol’s third-wheel pal, Abby (Sarah Paulson), has become more like a wised-up Highsmith. And Therese, only 20 in the book, is now a photographer instead of a theatrical set designer. Most reviews have focused on the tale’s theme of verboten love, without which this would be just another thorny love story. The director, currently rumoured to be working on a Peggy Lee biopic, can see it two ways. “Many great love stories, like Romeo and Juliet, become indictments of oppressive morality. At the same time, when I read this novel I found it dominated by the granular experience of being so attentive to the details and nuances, to every little awkwardness when in the company of the person you’re falling in love with—particularly when they hold all the power. That transcends period and place and object choice and sexual orientation. And that universal aspect immediately made me feel eligible to take Carol on, because it reminded me so much of myself at that age.” -

“ONE OF THE MOST MOVING AND 35292&$7,9( ),/06 <28·// 6(( 7+,6 <($5µ — NEW YORK MAGAZINE

F I L M

B Y

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A N D E R S O N

HEART OF A DOG WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES?

KHDUWRIDGRJÀOP FRP

STARTS FRIDAY!

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The North on screen

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alff.ca DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 63

Trumbo

Cinemas 10 New Westminster, Landmark Cinemas 6 Esplanade North Vancouver and SilverCity Coquitlam & VIP Cinemas

from page 62

Roach—initially seems to be shooting for caricature. But Trumbo himself was a throwback combination of Old World courtliness and Mark Twain wit. “There are always frightened, ignorant people around,” he tells his children, “and they’ve been breeding quite rapidly of late.” The new film’s admiring script does have some sense of humour about its workaholic hero. A similarly treated but less adaptable colleague, played by Louis C.K., finally asks our pontificating scribe, “Do you have to say everything like it’s going to be carved into rock?” Luckily for us, it was—or at least preserved on paper and film. > KEN EISNER

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT Starring Sarah Gadon. Rated PG. For showtimes, please see page 64

On May 8, 1945, the western

2 world breathed a massive sigh

of relief, even if the Second World War would continue to rage in the Pacific for three more gruesome months. With the U.K. finally out of danger, it was understandable that King George’s two teenage daughters might want to leave the palace and hobnob with the masses for once. A Royal Night Out essentially spreads a half-hour’s worth of material over roughly 90 minutes. The tale’s principal appeal is the charm of its two leads: Canada’s fair-haired Sarah Gadon, too pretty as dark-maned, 19-year-old Princess Elizabeth; and England’s Bel Powley as Margaret. Director Julian Jarrold depends too much on the contrast between the future queen’s sensible nature and Margaret’s ditsiness. Happily, their acting makes the most of a thin script. The euphoric anarchy of the big Night Out isn’t fully captured. But the costumes are nice; in fact, the pinkchiffon gowns of P1 and P2 do effectively predict a lifetime of wearing exactly the wrong colours. > KEN EISNER

REPERTORY CINEMAS Times are current as of Friday, December 11

THE CINEMATHEQUE 1131 Howe St., Vancouver, 604-688-3456, www.thecinematheque.ca 2DILLINGER IS DEAD Thu 8:30 2EVA NOVá Wed 7:30 2PICKPOCKET Thu 6:30 2THE GOLD RUSH Sun 1:00 2UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD Fri, Sun-Mon 6:30; Sat 12:00, 6:30

movies/ timeout NEW THIS WEEK REPERTORY CINEMAS SPECIAL EVENTS FIRST-RUN SHOW TIMES

< < < <

NEW THIS WEEK CAROL Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Sarah Paulson star in I’m Not There. director Todd Haynes’s drama about a department-store clerk who falls for an older, married woman. Rated PG. 118 mins. Cineplex Fifth Avenue Cinemas EVERY THING WILL BE FINE Rachel McAdams, James Franco, and Peter Stormare star in The Salt of the Earth director Wim Wenders’s drama about a writer who accidentally hits and kills a child with his car. Rated G. 118 mins. Cineplex Fifth Avenue Cinemas HEART OF A DOG Writer-director Laurie Anderson’s documentary is an impressionistic and musical meditation on her dog Lolabelle’s death. 75 mins. Vancity Theatre IN THE HEART OF THE SEA Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, and Brendan Gleeson star in Rush director Ron Howard’s historical drama about a whaling ship that’s preyed upon by a sperm whale in 1820. Rated PG. 122 mins. Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver and others MY INTERNSHIP IN CANADA Patrick Huard, Suzanne Clément, and Irdens Exantus star in Monsieur Lazhar writer-director Philippe Falardeau’s comedy about an idealistic young Haitian who travels to rural Quebec to intern for an independent MP. Rated PG. 108 mins. Vancity Theatre TRUMBO Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, and Helen Mirren star in The Campaign director Jay Roach’s biographical drama about a Hollywood screenwriter who was blacklisted and jailed for his political beliefs in 1947. Rated PG. 124 mins. Cineplex Cinemas Langley, Cineplex Fifth Avenue Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas, Landmark

VANCITY THEATRE 1181 Seymour St., 604683-3456, www.viff.org/theatre 2FROM HERE TO ETERNITY Sun 5:30 2HEART OF A DOG Fri, Wed 6:30; Sat 5:40; Sun 7:50; Mon 8:45; Thu 8:40 2JAFAR PANAHI’S TAXI Sat 9:25 2JINGLE ALL THE WAY Fri 10:30 2MY INTERNSHIP IN CANADA Fri 8:10; Sat 7:15; Wed 8:05; Thu 6:30 2PAL JOEY Mon 6:30 2THAT’S LIFE! A FRANK SINATRA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION PRESENTED BY MICHAEL VAN DEN BOS Sun 3:00 2THE GREAT BEAUTY Mon 1:00 2THE HIDDEN FORTRESS Sat 3:00 2THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING Sat 1:00

on the web!

For up-to-the-minute, searchable Movies Time Out listings, visit

www.straight.com

a selection of film and TV-special clips featuring the crooner. Dec 13, 3 pm, Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour). Tix $11/9 (plus membership fee), info www.viff.org/theatre/.

MEXICO BARBARO Eight Mexican directors unite to bring tales of Mexican traditions and legends to life. Filmmakers in attendance. Dec 13, 9:15 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $12/10, info www. riotheatre.ca/.

RIO THEATRE 1660 E. Broadway, Vancouver, 604-878-3456, www.riotheatre.ca 2ALL THINGS MUST PASS Mon 7:00 2FRACTURED LAND Sun 3:45 2GREMLINS Fri 11:55 2LIFE OFF GRID Sun 1:30 2MERU Sat 1:30 2MéXICO BáRBARO Sun 9:15 2VICTORIA Sun 6:00

FIRST-RUN SHOWTIMES

SCOTIABANK THEATRE VANCOUVER 900 Burrard St., Vancouver, 604-630-1407, www.cineplex.com 2CREED Fri-Sun, Tue 12:20, 1:00, 3:30, 4:10, 6:40, 7:20, 9:50, 10:30; Mon 12:20, 12:55, 3:25, 4:10, 6:40, 7:10, 9:45, 10:15; Wed 12:20, 12:55, 3:25, 4:10, 7:10, 9:50, 10:15; Thu 12:20, 12:55, 3:25, 4:05, 10:35 2THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 Fri-Sat 12:40, 1:20, 3:50, 4:30, 7:00, 7:40, 10:10, 10:50; Sun 1:20, 3:50, 4:30, 7:00, 7:40, 10:10, 10:50; Mon 12:25, 1:00, 3:30, 4:00, 6:35, 7:10, 9:40, 10:10; Tue 12:45, 3:50, 4:40, 7:00, 7:40, 10:10, 10:50; Wed 12:30, 1:00, 3:30, 4:00, 6:35, 7:10, 9:40, 10:10; Thu 1:00, 4:00, 7:40, 10:50 2IN THE HEART OF THE SEA FriSat, Tue, Thu 1:40, 7:30; Sun 12:15, 7:25; Mon, Wed 1:25, 7:15 2KRAMPUS Fri-Sun, Tue 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 7:45, 10:25; Mon, Wed 12:50, 4:30, 7:20, 9:50; Thu 12:15, 2:40, 5:05 2THE MARTIAN Fri-Sun, Tue 3:30; Mon, Wed-Thu 3:35 2THE NIGHT BEFORE Fri-Sun, Tue 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:05, 10:40; Mon, Wed 12:45, 4:15, 7:25, 10:05; Thu 12:05, 2:35, 5:10 2SISTERS Thu 7:15, 10:20 2SPECTRE FriSun, Tue 12:00, 3:20, 6:50, 10:15; Mon 12:15, 3:35, 6:50, 10:10; Wed 12:15, 3:30, 6:30, 9:45; Thu 12:00, 3:20, 6:40, 10:10 2STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Thu 7:45, 11:45

Times are current as of Friday, December 11

CINEPLEX FIFTH AVENUE CINEMAS 2110 Burrard St., Vancouver, 604-734-7469, www.cineplex.com 2CAROL Fri-Thu 1:00, 4:00, 6:45, 9:45 2EVERY THING WILL BE FINE Fri-Tue 4:45; Wed-Thu 1:45, 4:45, 7:50, 10:30 2SPECTRE Fri-Sun, Tue, Thu 12:25, 3:40, 7:00, 10:15; Mon, Wed 12:25, 3:40, 10:15 2SPOTLIGHT Fri-Thu 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 2TRUMBO Fri-Thu 12:30, 3:25, 6:15, 9:15

THAT’S LIFE! A FRANK SINATRA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Vancouver film scholar Michael van den Bos presents

CINEPLEX PARK THEATRE 3440 Cambie St., 3440 Cambie St., 604-709-3456, www. cineplex.com 2BROOKLYN Fri 4:00, 6:40,

MERU Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s film follows three climbers struggle to climb Himalayan peak Mount Meru. Dec 12, 1:30 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Tix $12/10, info www.riotheatre.ca/.

OMNIMAX THEATRE 1455 Quebec St., Vancouver, 604-443-7443, www.scienceworld.ca/omnimax 2D-DAY: NORMANDY 1944 Fri-Thu 1:00 2HUMPBACK WHALES Fri-Thu 12:00, 2:00 2SANTA VS. THE SNOWMAN Fri-Thu 3:00

LIFE OFF GRID Documentary explores the story of people who have chosen to build their lives around renewable energy. Dec 13, 1:30 pm, Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway). Info www.riotheatre.ca/.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING Director Avi Lewis’s documentary attempts to re-imagine the vast challenge of climate change. Inspired by Naomi Klein’s international nonfiction bestseller This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate. Dec 12, 1 pm, Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour). Tix $11/9 (plus membership fee), info www.viff.org/theatre/.

HECKLEVISION: JINGLE ALL THE WAY Screening of the 1996 Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy about a father who goes to great lengths to obtain a toy for his son on Christmas Eve. The audience’s comments will be broadcast on screen. Dec 11, 10:30 pm, Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour). Tix $11/9 (plus membership fee), info www.viff.org/theatre/.

DUNBAR THEATRE 4555 Dunbar St. at 30 Ave., Vancouver, 604-222-2991, https:// www.facebook.com/DunbarTheatre 2THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 Fri-Sun 3:30, 7:00, 9:40; Mon 7:00; Tue-Wed 3:30, 7:00

THE GREAT BEAUTY Paolo Sorrentino’s film sees a man look past the nightclubs and parties of his past to find a landscape of absurd beauty. In Italian with English subtitles. Dec 14, 1 pm, Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour). Info www.viff.org/theatre/.

CINEPLEX ODEON INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE CINEMAS 88 W. Pender, Vancouver, 604-806-0799, www.cineplex. com 2BRIDGE OF SPIES Fri, Sun 12:25, 3:30, 6:55, 10:00; Sat 3:35, 6:55, 10:00; Mon-Thu 12:45, 3:50, 6:55, 10:00 2BROOKLYN Fri-Sun 1:30, 4:15, 6:50, 9:30; Mon-Thu 1:30, 4:10, 6:50, 9:30 2FALL IN LOVE LIKE A STAR Fri-Sun 12:35, 3:00, 5:25, 7:55, 10:25; Mon-Thu 1:40, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50 2THE GOOD DINOSAUR Fri, Sun 2:10, 4:40; Sat 11:40, 2:10, 4:40; MonThu 1:20, 3:55 2HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Sat 11:00 2KRAMPUS Thu 7:00, 9:35 2LEGEND Fri-Sun 1:00, 4:00, 7:15, 10:15; Mon-Thu 1:00, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15 2THE NIGHT BEFORE Thu 7:35, 10:10 2OUR TIMES FriSun 12:30, 3:35, 6:40, 9:50; Mon, Wed 12:55, 4:00, 10:10; Tue 12:55, 4:00, 7:00, 10:10; Thu 12:55, 4:00 2THE PEANUTS MOVIE Fri, Sun 3:05, 5:35; Sat 11:30, 3:05, 5:35; Mon-Thu 4:20 2ROOM Fri-Sun 2:00, 4:50, 7:40, 10:30; MonThu 1:25, 4:25, 7:30, 10:20 2A ROYAL NIGHT OUT Fri-Sun 7:45, 10:10; Mon-Wed 6:40, 9:15 2A SECOND CHANCE Fri-Sun 12:50, 3:50, 7:00, 10:05; Mon-Thu 12:50, 3:45, 7:00, 10:05 2SECRET IN THEIR EYES Fri-Sun 10:30; MonThu 9:20 2SPOTLIGHT Fri-Sun 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:45; Mon-Thu 1:05, 4:05, 7:10, 10:05 2TRUMBO Fri-Thu 1:10, 4:05, 7:05, 9:55

SPECIAL EVENTS

9:20; Sat 1:25, 4:00, 6:40, 9:20; Sun, Tue 4:00, 6:30, 9:10; Mon, Wed-Thu 6:30, 9:05 2HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Sat 11:00

VANCOUVER AQUARIUM 4D EXPERIENCE THEATRE 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, 604-659-3474, vanaqua.org 2THE POLAR EXPRESS 4-D EXPERIENCE Fri, Mon-Thu 11:15, 12:30, 1:45, 3:00, 4:15; Sat-Sun 11:15 am (every 30 minutes until 4:15 pm)

TIME OUT MOVIE LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge, based on available space. Every effort is made to acquire accurate weekly movie listings by press time, but info is subject to change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please confirm films and times by checking the cinema’s website.

604.730.7060

REAL ESTATE

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HOUSING

Airbnb listings lift off

resh data about Airbnb rentals in Vancouver suggests a growing number of the city’s couches, spare rooms, and entire homes and apartments are up for rent via the popular mobile app. According to online information obtained on December 3, there were 4,728 Airbnb listings for the city. Of those, 3,179, or 67 percent, were for an entire place; 1,399, or 30 percent, were for a private room; and 150, or three percent, were for a shared room. The data was collected and made available by Inside Airbnb, a website run by New York–based photojournalist Murray Cox. He describes the project as an “independent, non-commercial set of tools”. Cox’s study also found that of those 3,179 Vancouver listings for an entire place, 76 percent fall into a “high availability” category, meaning they’re available to rent for more than 90 days per year. “Entire homes or apartments highly available year-round for tourists probably don’t have the owner present, could be illegal, and, more importantly, are displacing residents,” the website states. Cox’s look at Vancouver was constructed with the help of Karen Sawatzky, an SFU master’s student who published similar information last summer. In a telephone interview, she cautioned that there are differences in how the two packages were assembled and presented. But Sawatzky said even a rough comparison makes clear that more Vancouver residents are renting spaces on Airbnb. Her data was captured on June 1, 2015. It showed 3,473 Airbnb listings for Vancouver, 2,466 of which were for an entire dwelling. Sawatzky noted June is typically a busy month for the tourism industry, whereas December is not. She said the increase in the number of listings heading into the winter months raises questions about whether Airbnb is seasonal or becoming a more permanent way for people to make money by renting rooms year-round. NPA city councillor Melissa De Genova told the Straight she requested that city staff review the Airbnb issue last summer and is waiting to hear back.

“We have to look at our existing rental stock and how Airbnb is affecting that,” De Genova said. “If those properties are coming off the market because it is more lucrative for the owner to rent them as an Airbnb to tourists, we certainly have to look at that.” De Genova emphasized that the so-called sharing economy has developed as an important new sector and said she doesn’t believe Airbnb should be banned from Vancouver. She recommended the city accommodate and regulate Airbnb in ways that minimize impacts on renters and communities.

Real Estate

CLASSADS@STRAIGHT.COM

2404-1500 Hornby St. Vancouver $1,088,800.00

OPEN HOUSE

Dec 11th 10AM-12PM Dec 12th & 13th 2-4PM

> TRAVIS LUPICK

PLANS ARE ALREADY afoot to redevelop 130

West Broadway, site of the Vancouver store of outdoor retailer MEC. “We’re working on plans right now,” Jon Stovell, president of Reliance Properties, told the Straight in a phone interview Tuesday (December 8). Stovell said the redevelopment will be a mix of residential and retail uses, plus public amenities. “We hope to be bringing forward some redevelopment concepts for the site early next year,” Stovell said. MEC has been leasing 130 West Broadway from Reliance Properties since 1995. The outdoor retailer is currently occupying a single-floor building that is near the end of its useful life. “It’s a very, very large site, a very important site on the Broadway corridor, so it’s going to become, I think, quite an interesting discussion next year about the best way to deal with that opportunity,” Stovell said. MEC expects to move in 2018 to a new store location at 101 East 2nd Avenue, which is currently subject to a rezoning application by the Beedie Development Group. The Beedie Development Group plans to develop a three-storey retail and office building in the Southeast False Creek location. “The site at 2nd Avenue and Quebec Street is ideal in many respects,” MEC’s public-affairs manager, Tim Southam, told the Straight by phone. “Being in Olympic Village…there’s a lot of activity that goes on down there that’s directly related to what we do as an outdoor retailer.”

Rare to come on the market 04 floor plan with unobstructed ocean & Marinaside water views from almost every room. Fully renovated luxury 1028 Sq.Ft open floor plan 2 bed/ 2bath in one of Yaletown’s elegant first class waterfront building! Everything is almost brand new. Some of the features include; high ceiling, custom built kitchen with Bosch S/S appliances, hardwood floors throughout the unit. Partially remote controlled lighting & pot lights. Gas linear fire place. Large master bedroom with spa like ensuit w/Infloor heating. Long 160 Sq.Ft patio perfect for entertaining. Building is in a great condition and was fully rainscreened. Building has great amenities including pool, sauna, gym. Seawall at your doorstep!

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DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 65

CAREERS & EMPLOYMENT

WE ARE HIRING! TRANSIT OPERATOR TRAINEES NEEDED

Check our Website to Apply: http://www.translink.ca/careers

HOSPITALITY/FOOD SERVICE CANTONESE CUISINE COOK Hon’s Wun-Tun House (New Westminster) is seeking a permanent, full time cook. $18/hour. Requirements: 3 years cooking experience. Need to have a creative and in depth knowledge of Cantonese cuisine. Ensure health and safety regulations are met. Job Duties: Supervise and coordinate food production to ensure quality & work with other cooks to enrich the existing menu. Support & work with head chef. 408 - 6th Str. New Westminster, BC, V3L 3B2 Please contact honsnewwestminster@gmail.com

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MARKETPLACE

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savage love I’m a 24-year-old gay male with few

resources and no “marketable” skills. I have made a lot of bad choices and now I struggle to make ends meet in a crappy dead-end job, living paycheque to paycheque in an expensive East Coast city. Recently, someone on Grindr offered me $3,000 to have sex with him. He is homely and nearly three times my age, but he seems kind and respectful. I could really use that money. I have no moral opposition to prostitution, but the few friends I’ve spoken to were horrified. Part of me agrees and thinks this is a really bad idea and I’ll regret it. But there’s another part of me that figures, hey, it’s just sex—and I’ve done more humiliating things for a lot less money. It makes me sad to think the only way I can make money is prostituting myself, because my looks aren’t going to last forever. And let’s face it: prostitution is an ugly and messy business, and it wouldn’t impress a potential future employer. > STRESSED OVER TAKING ELDERLY MAN’S PAYMENT TO EAT DICK

I shared your letter with Eric Sprankle, an assistant professor of psychology at Minnesota State University and a licensed clinical psychologist. “This young man is distressed that he may have to resort to ‘prostituting himself ’, which suggests he, like most people, views sex work as the selling of one’s body or the selling of oneself,” said Sprankle, who tweets about sexual health, the rights of sex workers, and secularism @DrSprankle.

But you wouldn’t be selling yourself or your body, SOTEMPTED, you would be selling access to your body— temporary access—and whatever particular kind of sex you consented to have with this man in exchange for his money. “Sex work is the sale of a service,” said Sprankle. “The service may involve specific body parts that aren’t typically involved in most industries, but it is unequivocally a service labour industry. Just as massage therapists aren’t selling their hands or themselves when working out the kinks of some wealthy older client, sex workers are merely selling physical and emotional labour.” Massage therapists who haaaaate seeing their occupation referenced in conversations about sex work—all those hard-working, never-jerking massage therapists—might wanna check their privilege, as all the cool kids on campus are saying these days. “Massage therapists have the privilege of not worrying about being shamed and shunned by friends,” said Sprankle, “and not worrying about being arrested for violating archaic laws.” You will have to worry about shame, stigma, and arrest if you decide to go ahead with this, SOTEMPTED. “He will have to be selective about whom he shares his work experiences with and may have to keep it a lifelong secret from family and coworkers,” said Sprankle. “This could feel isolating and inauthentic. And while I am not aware of any empirical evidence to suggest men who enter sex work in this manner later regret their decision,

> BY DAN SAVAGE this young man’s friends have already given him a glimpse of the unfortunate double-standard social stigma of pursuing this work.” Because I’m a full-service sexadvice professional, SOTEMPTED, I also shared your letter with a couple of guys who’ve actually done sex work—one a bona fide sex worker, the other a sexual adventurer. “I was struck by the words SOTEMPTED used to describe sex work: ugly, messy, humiliating,” said Mike Crawford, a sex worker, sexworkers-rights activist, and selfidentified “cashsexual” who tweets @BringMeTheAx. “For many of us, it’s actually nothing like that. When you strip away the moralizing and misinformation, sex work is simply a job that provides a valuable service to your clients. Humiliation or mess can be involved—if that’s what gets them off—but there is absolutely nothing inherently ugly or degrading about the work itself.” What about regrets? “It’s true that he could wind up regretting doing the paid-sex thing,” said Crawford. “Then again, there’s a chance of regret in almost any hookup. Lots of people who didn’t get paid for sex wind up having postfuck regrets. I’d also encourage him to consider the possibility that he might look back and regret not taking the plunge. I’ve met plenty of sex workers over the years who wish they had started sooner.” “I don’t regret it,” said Philip (not his real name), a reader who sent me a question about wanting to experience getting paid for sex and later

took the plunge. “I felt like I was in the power position. And in the moment, it wasn’t distressing. Just be sure to negotiate everything in advance—what’s on the table and what’s not—and be very clear about expectations and limits.” Philip, who is bisexual, wound up being paid for sex by two guys. Both were older, both were more nervous than he was, and neither was a looker. “But you don’t really look,” said Philip. “You close your eyes, you detach yourself from yourself—it is like metasex, like watching yourself having sex.” You may find detaching from yourself in that way to be emotionally unpleasant or even exhausting, SOTEMPTED, but not everyone does. If your first experience goes well and you decide to see this particular guy again or start doing sex work regularly, pay close attention to your emotions and your health. If you don’t enjoy the actual work of sex work, or if you find it emotionally unpleasant or exhausting, stop doing sex work. It has to be said that there are plenty of people out there who regret doing sex work—their stories aren’t hard to find, as activists who want sex work to remain illegal are constantly promoting them. But feelings of regret aren’t unique to sex work, and people who do regret doing sex work often cite the consequences of its illegality (police harassment, criminal record) as chief among their regrets. One last piece of advice from Mike Crawford: “There is a pretty glaring red flag here: $3,000 is a really, really steep price for a single date. I’m not

implying that SOTEMPTED isn’t worth it, but the old ‘if it sounds too good to be true’ adage definitely applies in sex work. Should he decide to do this, he needs to screen carefully before agreeing to meet in person. The safety resources on the Sex Workers Outreach Project website (swopusa.org/) are a great place for him to learn how to do just that.”

I’m a straight 20-something woman. I recently gave my partner a blowjob. He was enjoying it, obviously, and then he said, “I’m feeling brave. I want you to finger me.” I have never fingered a man before, and he has never suggested that he might be into that, so I was caught off-guard. I responded, “But we don’t have lube!” He didn’t say anything, and I finished him off without fingering him. He hasn’t brought it up since. He is a manly man and conservative. I want him to be able to experience that if it’s something he wants to experience, but I don’t know what to say! > 2 PROD OR NOT 2 PROD

You don’t have to say anything. Just buy a little bottle of lube—not a fullsize bottle (most of those look like giant cocks, and we don’t want to scare this manly man to death)— and set it on the nightstand. When he notices it, 2PON2P, smile and say, “That’s for the next time you’re feeling brave.” On the Lovecast, it’s the one-minute wonder show! Email: mail@savage love.net . Follow Dan on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fakedansavage/.

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DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 69

> Go on-line to read hundreds of I Saw You posts or to respond to a message < BUS NUMBER 4 MONDAY 12/7

SINGLE ESPRESSO

LOOK WHAT’S COOKING

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 7, 2015 WHERE: West 4th and Granville St.

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 5, 2015 WHERE: Georgia and Jackson

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 2, 2015 WHERE: Noodlebox, Homer Street

I hopped on the bus just before the Granville Street bridge on West 4th. You were wearing a cute yellow scarf and I a black toque. You kept looking at me and smiling from your seat just next to the back stairs, and I wish I had smiled back at you and started up a conversation. Instead I sat down in front of you but missed my chance when you jumped off around the Granville SkyTrain... A beverage sometime?

I used to work in the cafe that you go to most days. I am fairly certain you knew I found you attractive, but didn’t ask you out because it wasn’t appropriate. There is something peaceful about you that I really enjoy. One time you fixed the door with some tape, another time you forgot your mouse. Coffee sometime?

As I was making my way out of Noodlebox you told me you loved my sweater and asked me if I was having a good night. I smiled, generously, answered politely and left. However, walking home, glowing, I wondered if I should have chatted some more. Should've I?

FRIDAY NIGHT @ DENNY’S

CACTUS CLUB ENGLISH BAY FRIDAY NOV 27

MOUSTACHE MAN - HASTINGS & COLUMBIA SUNDAY @ NOON

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 6, 2015 WHERE: Hastings & Columbia I saw you at the corner waiting to cross and you were already smiling as I approached. You were holding hands with a wee one waiting for the light to change. As I crossed the street and looked back you were still looking and smiling. Felt like I knew you but couldn’t place it. If this note crosses your path shoot me a message! I had dark hair and an Insite hoody. Tell me what corner you were standing on.

LEELOO ON THE SHORE

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: OCTOBER 31, 2015 WHERE: North Shore Leeloo... I really want to take you for sushi. The stars may be making it difficult for us but if you see this text me! I lost your number when I lost my phone. I hope you still have the wig. -Skeleton Babe.

You came in late Friday night with friend for takeaway. You were rocking black jammies/hoodie. I was there with a friend and overheard you mention about the dating scene. You are beautiful and I’d like to show you how amazing love can be. Go out with me and we can talk about “stuff”.

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 1, 2015 WHERE: Gastown You were having a meal in a restaurant on Powell Street with a dark haired friend. I see you often in Gastown. Typing on your Mac on the bench in Maple Tree Square. I work nearby and wonder... coffee sometime?

You arrived alone and had b-day drinks with your friends. You had such a great smile as my table engaged with yours. I wanted to chat but you left with your friends. Would like to meet you again.

99 B LINE

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 17, 2015 WHERE: Granville/Broadway Stop

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 4, 2015 WHERE: 12th/Fir Directing traffic around an accident on W.12th Ave this morning. Tall, beardy, VPD. Looked extremely bored, maybe you just needed a coffee. Being stuck in traffic for 10 mins trying to get through one intersection was infinitely less frustrating with that interesting view. HELLO.

THE WEEKND CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHER

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 27, 2015 WHERE: Cactus Club English Bay

HOT COP ON W.12TH

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 2, 2015 WHERE: Roger’s Arena

MATURE REDHEAD BLACK BERET GASTOWN

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 5, 2015 WHERE: Denny’s at Kingsway

I was outside the Toyota Ticket Centre outside Rogers Arena for the Weeknd concert, and you asked if you could take my picture. I had black straight hair, an olive green jacket and a maroon striped shirt! Lol I should have asked why you were taking my picture? You were wearing a black baseball cap and I think your hair was blonde and short? Please tell me why u wanted my picture! Haha

We were getting on the bus and you asked some guy to move up a little, he started abusing you, I told him to mind his manners. We started talking, got on the SkyTrain together, and I got off at Nanaimo without your number.

PHARMACY BEAUTY

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 23, 2015 WHERE: Family Clinic - Lonsdale Ave North Van Pop...pop... Apparently our initial conversation at the Lonsdale clinic/pharmacy (Lonsdale and 10th/8th) consisted of bizarre popping sounds we made when you were working amongst a variety of medical supplies. But I remember mostly your energy, your black hair and some of the craziest, beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen... Hopefully you remember my 6’1” frame, dark beard and dark jacket that day and can put some meaning in this message... You never know ;)...

EARLY MORNING AT WHOLE FOODS

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: DECEMBER 1, 2015 WHERE: Whole Foods on 4th ave. We talked briefly that morning in Whole Foods. You had a box of treats for your boss to thank him for giving you the day off so you could move. You’re in charge of office wellness at a software company. Loved your eyes and friendly demeanour. Wondering if you’d like to go for coffee. Jake.

QUEERS & BEERS NIGHT

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 29, 2015 WHERE: Cobalt Hotel - Queers & Beers Event Hanna(h?)... You were saving my seat and keeping my cousin company. I was fashionably late. We chatted for a bit over some craft beer samples. You had to dash to pick up your son. You seemed fun and interesting. I’d like to get to know you.

B & B CONTRACTING GUY

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 30, 2015 WHERE: 22 Bus, Broadway-Kits Beach Saw you on the 22 bus around 1:45pm today. You were wearing a B & B Contracting sweater and had nice blue eyes. I have shoulder length brown hair and was wearing a royal blue shirt and grey skirt. You smiled when I got on the bus at Broadway and we kept looking over at each other, smiling. You made my day! I got off at Cornwall & Balsam, but maybe I’ll see you again?

PASSING SMILES & PLAYFUL GLANCES OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL BRANCH LIBRARY

FRIENDLY TAIWANESE GIRL ON GRANVILLE STREET SATURDAY NIGHT

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 29, 2015 WHERE: VPL Central Branch - Homer & W Georgia intersection We were both crossing the street outside the library, walking towards each other (you on the library side). I was hurrying to get across the street and we exchanged big smiles as I hurried past you. I kept walking, but looked back over my shoulder once on the library side and noticed you looked back at me too. I kept looking back over my shoulder once we were both on opposite sides of the street and noticed you kept looking back at me smiling. We playfully did this about 3-4 times. I have long brown hair, was wearing red pants, a black jacket and burgundy toque. I remember you had dark hair and a black jacket (I think). Anyway, this playful exchange kept me grinning for the rest of the day. I’m a hopeless romantic, and this is a long shot, but I’m kind of hoping you read the Georgia Straight!

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 21, 2015 WHERE: East Bound Commercial and Hastings I was waiting with my sister at the SFU bound N35 stop at Commercial and Hastings Street (~midnight) when I noticed you and exchanged smiles. I’d recognized you as a fellow CAP U student who I used to see randomly last year. Liberal arts Emma, you seem to have a cool personality that I would like to get to know a little better! and if you are reading this, you are even the cooler!

TARA AT THE ODYSSEY

SEXY PARAMEDIC

You had your hood up and we were chatting while walking up Granville on Saturday night. We got separated before I had a chance to give you my number; I would love to connect again.

I FOUND YOUR PHONE!

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 20, 2015 WHERE: Main Street - Science World. And restored your faith in humanity (as you said.). I hope you didn’t think I don’t want you to have my number, I do! I think you seem really nice and I’d like to have more friends like you.

RED TOQUE AND BLONDE ON THE 99 BAE-LINE @ 11:30AM

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 27, 2015 WHERE: 99 B-Line

WAITING FOR THE N35 SFU BUS ON A COLD SATURDAY NIGHT

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 28, 2015 WHERE: Granville Street

We were on the B-Line this morning. When the sunlight flashed through the windows and hit your eyes, they shone green and blue. Someone called you. You took out your cell, answered with a voice-cracky “Hello?” (hastily clearing your throat afterwards). I tried not to look at you, but I’m grateful for the I thrilling two seconds of eye contact we made. I was wearing sports leggings, runners, and a backpack. I hurried off at the Cambie stop, and I felt you behind me for a brief bit. Why didn’t I say hi? I guess I’ll try to ride the 99 BaeLine on Friday mornings in hopes of running into you again.

YOU’VE GOT A SWEET VAN

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 28, 2015 WHERE: The Odyssey Nightclub in Vancouver

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 27, 2015 WHERE: Forever 21 Metrotown

We met, we danced, we hung out. I lost my wallet and phone. You had to go home and take care of your dogs. I regret not taking you up on the offer to continue the interaction at a later date. If you see this, get in touch!

You crossed my path as I exited the change room at forever 21. Me: head to toe black, caramel goddess. You: delicious paramedic uniform. Do you want to kickstart my heart over coffee?... the morning after ;)

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: NOVEMBER 27, 2015 WHERE: Strathcona Park I first noticed the massive safari rack on top and that your van seemed to be sitting higher than stock. The A/T BF Goodrich tires were pretty badass too. Pretty sweet Astro you’ve got there.

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70 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

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straight stars December 10 to 16, 2015

much bigger show, for a much larger and Tuesday are your best days to get step forward. Kudos to the Liberals at it and enjoy it, too. he weather isn’t the only for taking a more aggressive stance on CANCER thing that’s operating at full climate change and doing their best to June 21–July 22 wind. Thursday’s Mars/Ura- fast-track refugees to Canada. Past Thursday’s extra finus opposition also packs a ARIES nancial or family pressure, more punch, perhaps unexpectedly so. It’s a March 20–April 20 workable or viable solutions are easstrike-flint, instant-hit, spontaneousThursday takes you over ily found. The weekend is great for combustion, and freedom combination. On the plus side, this planetary the hump in some positive and well- sorting it out. Sun/Jupiter can get you pairing can spark a breakthrough or timed way. As of Friday’s new moon, going early Monday. The start of the a blockbuster release. This is a great you’ll gain a much better sense of week piles it up, but as each day procombination for partygoing, pub- where it’s going and how to play it. gresses, so do you. Aim for creative lic events, and political causes. On On Saturday, you’ll have it well under solutions; go with what’s most natura cautionary note, Mars in tension control. Monday could get you going al and readily available. Wednesday/ with Uranus can be impetuous, vola- earlier than usual. Over the coming Thursday brings peace and ease. tile, unhinging, extreme, high-risk, week, the stars are a good mix of proLEO or accident-prone. The moment, the ductive and creative. July 22–August 23 mood, and instant gratification can TAURUS Friday’s new moon sets up easily overtake you. Also on ThursApril 20–May 21 the next two weeks for a full-swing day, Venus trines Neptune, blending Thursday/Friday puts you countdown. Make good use of your their energies across the water signs of Scorpio and Pisces. Let’s hope on an upswing. Mars/Uranus can weekend and get to work on that tothe only thing that gets flooded is bring release or relief. They help do list. Monday/Tuesday is the peak the heart. This is a wonderful com- you to clear a hurdle, get some- of the week. Bargain, smooth-talk, bination for romance, indulging, and thing fi xed or upgraded, or make sell it up, or spread the love and good pleasure-seeking. Know that you can a breakthrough with someone or cheer. You’ll enjoy better-than-average something. Added expense is quite sway. Wednesday/Thursday is good for easily be sweet-talked or sold. Friday’s new moon in Sagittar- possible too, but you’re likely to feel romance, volunteering, or coasting. ius puts all the holiday extras on the that the money is well spent. SaturVIRGO upswing. Not surprisingly, we’ll see day through next Thursday, the dots August 23–September 23 more travellers, shoppers, and money connect for you very well. When you see an openchanging hands from now through GEMINI ing or opportunity, take it, especially the end of the month. While SaturMay 21–June 21 Thursday/Friday. In-the-moment ofday’s stars are good for keeping it Thursday is a great let-off- fers the best you can get. Saturday/ under control, through Monday/Tuesday, you can expect everything to run some-steam day. A change of plans, Sunday, it’s working for you very in high gear and at full-to-overflow an impulse purchase, a social event, well. Monday/Tuesday thrusts you capacity. Building to Monday, sun/ or a chance meeting could produce into something fresh. These days are Jupiter is prone to excess, overdoing, the high point of your week. Friday’s fast-paced and full to the brim, but overshooting, inflation, and exag- new moon can start a big push, but you’ll maintain a good grip. By Wedgeration. On the other hand, where through the next week the stars are nesday/Thursday, life is smoothing there’s a need, there’s also need for a playing it smooth. Saturday, Monday, out and easing up on you.

‫ﺎ‬ ‫ﺏ‬

‫ﺐ‬

‫ﺑ‬

‫ﺒ‬

‫ﺓ‬

> BY ROSE MARCUS

‫ﺔ‬

LIBRA

‫ﺕ‬

SCORPIO

September 23–October 23

A busy workweek ends on an upbeat note. Something unexpected can be an instant hit. The stars could be gifting, but on the other hand, Thursday’s Mars/ Uranus may surprise you with something caustic or costly. Don’t rely on secondhand information, and when up against it or them, err on the side of caution rather than trust. Next Monday/Tuesday works like a charm for you. October 23–November 22

Thursday/Friday could produce a big splash, splurge, or onslaught. Something or someone may take you by storm. Venus in Scorpio beautifully aligned with Neptune is terrific for romance, creative showcasing, or volunteering. This transit also sparks your generosity and compassion, and the spiritual side of life. Tender stars continue to claim your heart through next Thursday. Monday/ Tuesday, you’re a busy one!

‫ﺖ‬

SAGITTARIUS

November 22–December 21

‫ﺊ‬

CAPRICORN

‫ﺋ‬

AQUARIUS

‫ﺌ‬

PISCES

December 21–January 20

Freshly into take-charge, get-on-with-it Capricorn, Mercury will keep you going full blast through month’s end. Peaking Thursday, Mars/ Uranus also hits full-throttle action regarding spending, emotions, and self-control. Social or romantic, there’s magic! You own the weekend. Sun/ Jupiter keeps it on escalate or increase through Monday. Tuesday/Wednesday simply evaporates. It’s all good. January 20–February 18

The cash-it-in new moon on Friday replenishes and revitalizes you. On duty, at rest, or at play, Saturday/Sunday keeps you well submerged. Monday/Tuesday, the Aquarius moon has you fully present for action and doing it up right. You’re on a roll with plans, talks, and activities. Your people skills, timing, creativity, and intuition serve you very well. February 18–March 20

Feeling overwhelmed or under added pressure to finish off your to-do list? Look to Friday’s new moon to set you onto a productive spin. Saturday/Sunday is good for getting yourself better organized. Monday/Tuesday can be especially busy, but smooth and lucrative. Tuesday/Wednesday, you’re a smooth operator. The Pisces moon keeps you at the top of your game. -

Friday’s new moon in Sagittarius has you good to go and will keep you so through the next week or two. Saturday is your best day to stay on top of it. Sunday through Tuesday is for putting yourself on the move and for making the most of the here and now. Your people skills and timing are Book a reading with Rose Marcus at www.rosemarcus.com/astrolink/. right on the money.

DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 71

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72 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT DECEMBER 10 – 17 / 2015

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